Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Discover
Places to see
Belgium
Flanders
South Limburg

Herkenrode Abbesses' Quarter

Highlight • Historical Site

Herkenrode Abbesses' Quarter

Recommended by 120 hikers out of 122

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Vlaams Natuurreservaat Herkenrode

Save

Share

  • More

  • Save

    Share

  • More

  • Take Me There

    Routes here

    Best Hikes to Herkenrode Abbesses' Quarter

    4.4

    (36)

    342

    hikers

    1. View of Herkenrode Abbey – Herkenrode Abbey Site loop from Stokrooie

    5.82km

    01:29

    20m

    20m

    Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Navigate

    Send to Phone

    Easy

    Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Easy

    Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

    Easy

    Tips

    January 3, 2024

    In 2023, the last canon sisters of the Holy Sepulcher said goodbye to the monastery on the abbey site of Herkenrode. The six sisters moved to a residential care center, which also marks the end of religious activities on the site, about a year after the monastery was taken over by Toerisme Vlaanderen. The non-profit organization Herita now has the site under lease. The sisters stayed in the modern monastery, which has only existed since 1984 (just like the modern monastery church) and has merged with the abbess's residence from the sixteenth century. The Regular Canonesses of the Holy Sepulcher Bilzen bought those historic buildings and the abbess quarters of the former Cistercian abbey in Herkenrode in 1972 and opened a reflection center there that existed until 2012.

    Translated by Google •

      June 13, 2024

      In 1972, the canonesses of the Holy Sepulcher bought part of the domain: the 18th-century abbess's residence with the landscaped park and the ruins of the 16th-century abbess's residence, and in 1974 they established a monastery and a reflection center there. In 1982 they also bought the infirmary from 1658 and the remains of the dilapidated 16th-century sister quarters. The 8 hectare landscape park has been managed by the Nature and Forest Agency since 2015. A new monastery for the community of sisters was built in 1985 on the still existing foundations and vaults of the 'old' abbess quarters from 1538. A year later, the monastery church was also built in contemporary architectural style. Architect Lucas Van Herck based his approach on a philosophy that preserves the heritage while also developing it dynamically. This meant historicizing restoration, curative conservation, infill architecture and new construction. The modern church, always accessible to the public, is conceived as a central building with a 'full void' in the middle where the altar is positioned forward. Around this center are the choir stalls for the monastic community and the stands for the guests. Important for the spirituality of the Grave Sisters is the open burial chamber of the Risen Christ, to the right of the altar. Until the end of 2014, a reflection center was located in the classicist 'new' Abbess residence Herkenrode. Since September 2012, a permanent exhibition about the Order of the Canonesses of the Holy Sepulcher has been located in the vaulted cellars of the 16th-century abbess's residence. In three consecutive rooms the story of the origin and spread of the Order, their influence and spread in Limburg and Hasselt and the life and spirituality of the sisters is told. Since 2018, the north wing (1538) of the four wings grouped around a rectangular courtyard has also been restored.

      Translated by Google •

        August 21, 2021

        This zone, which includes the former abbesses' residences, the associated landscape park and the infirmary, were purchased in 1972 by the Canons Regular of the Holy Sepulchre. They built a new monastery with respect for the original architecture.

        You can visit the (new) church until 5.30 pm. Thank you for respecting the tranquility here.

        Source: abdijsiteherkenrode.be/domein/erfgoed

        Translated by Google •

          Sign up for a free komoot account to get 2 more insider tips and takes.

          Sign up for free

          Details

          Informations

          Elevation 70 m

          Weather

          Powered by AerisWeather

          Monday 10 November

          12°C

          9°C

          0 %

          If you start your activity now...

          Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

          Most visited during

          January

          February

          March

          April

          May

          June

          July

          August

          September

          October

          November

          December

          Loading

          Location: South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

          Other Popular Places to Check Out

          View of Herkenrode Abbey

          Explore
          RoutesRoute plannerFeaturesHikesMTB TrailsRoad cycling routesBikepacking
          Download the app
          Follow Us on Socials

          © komoot GmbH

          Privacy Policy