The presbytery depended on the abbey of Echternach. From around 1600, the parish priests of Postel Abbey were religious, probably from the refuge house of the abbey in Bree, which developed into a small monastery in the first half of the 17th century. The presbytery is first mentioned in 1726. It is situated on a rectangular, moated and partially walled plot, with entrance through a gatehouse to the east; a drawbridge was originally located here. Possibly the presbytery functioned as a redoubt for Reppel, or it was built on an existing redoubt from the end of the 16th century, such as at Kaulille. This situation is already indicated on the Ferraris map (1771-77): within the moated plot there are two opposite L-shaped wings, of which only the western one has been preserved; to the south of these buildings was the kitchen garden, to the west the orchard; to the east, outside the moat, there was also an orchard. In the Atlas van de Buurwegen (1845) the eastern wing has already disappeared; the gatehouse is indicated.
Of the remaining L-shaped wing, only the northern part (service building) is original. The current presbytery (western part) may have an old core, but it can now be dated to the first quarter of the 20th century, both in terms of volume and ordinance. The original part dates from the second half of the 17th or the first half of the 18th century. Cemented brick building of three bays and one storey under a steep gable roof (mechanical tiles). Wrought iron wall anchors with curls. Sundial in the right bay. The substructure was completely changed, the wall openings adapted.
The gatehouse is a brick construction from the second half of the 18th century, with a basket arch gate, flanked by brick pilasters under a mansard roof (slates); pigeon house on the side. The gate is flanked by two lower brick buildings of one bay under a lame gable roof (Flemish tiles), the side walls finished with roofing, braiding and top piece.
FLOWERS H., Bocholt, Reppel: village monograph, Hasselt, 1986, page 198. GRAUWELS J., The Archdiaconal Visitations of the Deanery of Maaseik (1646-1726), (Het Oude Land van Loon, 38, 1983, pages 191-194). MAES S.F. - DREESEN J., The History of Bree. The parish, the old monasteries, Heverlee, 1946, pages 147-159.
Source: SCHLUSMANS F. 2005: Inventory of cultural heritage in Belgium, Architecture, Province of Limburg, Arrondissement Maaseik, Kantons Bree - Maaseik, Building through the ages in Flanders 19n1, Brussels - Turnhout. Authors: Schlusmans, Frieda Date: 2005 The text is made available by: Agency for Real Estate Heritage (AOE)
The rectory, with moat and inner moat from 1607, once the residence of the Norbertine priests from the Postel abbey.
The sundial on the south facade of the oldest part of the building could be the oldest known sundial in Flanders.
Source: information board (see photos)
Tip: be sure to visit the rectory gardens and walk along the avenue to the rectory. Incidentally, you can go straight to the nature trail from the back of the garden.
In the front garden there are also a few sights and you will find lists of all the pastors of Reppel.
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