Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Saint John the Baptist Church, Wellen

Saint John the Baptist Church, Wellen

Highlight • Religious Site

Saint John the Baptist Church, Wellen

Recommended by 59 hikers out of 61

Save

Location: Wellen, Tongeren, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

Save

See hikes here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Hikes to Saint John the Baptist Church, Wellen

4.6

(12)

104

hikers

1. Boardwalks – Chapel of Oetersloven loop from Wellen

14.2km

03:40

80m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

4.7

(10)

hikers

2. Boardwalks – Through the meadows loop from Wellen

7.71km

01:58

30m

20m

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

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Easy

4.6

(13)

hikers

3. Saint John the Baptist Church, Wellen – The Herk loop from Wellen

12.2km

03:05

30m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Moderate

Tips

July 16, 2024

Until the beginning of the eighteenth century, the church was dedicated to Saint Brigid of Ireland or simply Saint Brigid, the patron saint of Ireland who founded the Kildare monastery in that country. She is also - among other things - the patron saint of cattle. In the Saint Salvator's Cathedral in Bruges, there is a piece of her cloak. She lived in the fifth and sixth centuries. Why her place was taken by Saint John the Baptist is not immediately clear. However, there are statues of both in the church.

For example, there is a polychrome wooden statue of Saint Brigid and a neo-Gothic oak statue of Saint John the Baptist. There is also a Saint Brigid altar. In the churchyard there are several hardstone crosses from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

The first church that stood here was made of wood, then a Romanesque church in stone was built in the twelfth century - the tower of which was preserved - and then all sorts of things happened, as you can read more via the link below.

Inventory of Immovable Heritage: Parish Church of St. John the Baptist, id.erfgoed.net/erfgoedobjecten/84267

Translated by Google •

July 18, 2024

Inside the church, the rood loft at the back is definitely worth a look. A beautiful neo-Gothic example that, together with the Romanesque tower, makes this church a winner. If you go inside to view the rood loft, you can also see what the Romanesque tower once looked like (look at the vaults and bricked holes). The fact that the stones for the tower come from the wall around Tongeren only makes it even more historically interesting.

Translated by Google •

Jeff S

March 16, 2022

The original Romanesque church was built in the 12th century. Arson by men of Jehannot-le-Bâtard destroyed the church in 1490; only the tower remained standing.
Restoration and reconstruction took place in Gothic style. The Romanesque church tower with small round-arched windows also served as a shelter over the years. Its walls are 1.80 m thick. Natural stones of all kinds were used in the construction. They come from the 4.5 km long wall from the 2nd century of the neighbouring town of Tongeren.
The church has been a protected monument since 1936.

Translated by Google •

Helmut Fußach

April 12, 2024

Very beautiful church. Different in style than ours in the Alps. Definitely worth a visit.😉

Translated by Google •

An 🇧🇪

July 17, 2024

John was the only son of a priest who served in the temple in Jerusalem. He was therefore destined to succeed his father, but, neglecting his family and priestly duties, he withdrew into the wilderness of Judea. Around the year 28 he appeared as a Jewish prophet north of the Dead Sea, on the banks of the Jordan. He was regarded as a holy man and an ascetic. He was given the nickname ‘the baptizer’ because of the striking and unusual ritual he performed: immersion in running water. Even after his death in the early 1830s, John was still highly regarded, apart from his connection with Jesus of Nazareth. John was a charismatic eschatological prophet. He announced an impending judgment in a dark and threatening tone: only inner conversion of the heart, outward change of lifestyle and the acceptance of John’s baptism could offer protection. Like so many of the sinful people of Israel, Jesus was also baptized by John, shortly before the start of his own public ministry. John's impact on Jesus continued after his baptism: he remained a disciple of John for a while; he recruited his own first disciples from the company around John and continued the rite of baptism. Some time after Jesus' baptism, Herod Antipas, fearing a rebellion, had John arrested because of his great influence and/or the content of his teaching. He was held captive and executed in the fortress of Machaerus located in the region of Perea, to which the eastern bank of the Jordan belonged.

Translated by Google •

Jos Willems

May 4, 2025

church waves

Translated by Google •

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 50 m

Weather

Today

Friday 14 November

17°C

14°C

100 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Wellen, Tongeren, South Limburg, Flanders, Belgium

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Abdij Mariënlof (Abdij van Colen)

Moordkuil Hollow Way

Kasteel en wijndomein van Rullingen

Boardwalk to Marienlof Abbey

Vlonderpad Nietelbroeken

Uitkijktoren Vilsterbron

Vlonderpaden in Zammelen

Rustbank met mooi panoramazicht

Simon Gronowski Sculpture

Old Freight Carriages at Stroopplein Borgloon

Manshovenhof and Cobblestone Avenues

Mombeek Valley (St.-Lambrechts-Herk)

Saint John the Baptist Church, Wellen

1. Boardwalks – Chapel of Oetersloven loop from Wellen

2. Boardwalks – Through the meadows loop from Wellen

3. Saint John the Baptist Church, Wellen – The Herk loop from Wellen

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️