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Valkenburg Aan De Geul

St. Gerlachus Church, Houthem

Valkenburg Aan De Geul

St. Gerlachus Church, Houthem

Highlight • Religious Site

St. Gerlachus Church, Houthem

Name: St. Gerlachus Church, Houthem
Rating: 2

Recommended by 60 hikers

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Location: Valkenburg Aan De Geul, Limburg, Netherlands

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2. Ingendael Nature Reserve – Marl Cliff along the Geul loop from Houthem-Sint Gerlach

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3. Ingendael Nature Reserve – Marl Cliff along the Geul loop from Valkenburg

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Tips

May 11, 2025

The history of the church of St. Gerlachus begins shortly after the saint's death, around 1200. A Norbertine monastery was founded on the spot where Gerlachus had lived in Houthem. At the same time, there is mention of a chapel in Houthem, dedicated to St. Martin, where mass was read.

Houthem has certainly been an independent parish since 1600, separate from the monastery and the monastery church, the current church of St. Gerlachus. In 1793, just before the French arrived here and Houthem became part of the Austrian Netherlands, the Austrian emperor Joseph II abolished all contemplative orders and the sisters disappeared from Houthem for good. The building complex, including the church (the collegiate church or monastery church), had already been abandoned and remained empty.

The current church was built in 1720 on the site of its predecessor. In 1751, the German baroque painter Johan Adam Schöpf painted frescoes in the entire interior of the church, which is unique for the Netherlands.

Source and (much) more at kerkgebouwen-in-limburg.nl/kerken/houthem-stgerlach/gerlachus

Translated by Google •

May 11, 2025

Please note: the most important relics that were once in the church are now in the treasury that you can visit freely. These include the silver bust of Gerlach(us) with his skull and the restored tunic (silk robe) of the saint.

Translated by Google •

Happy Hikers 🦋🌸🌼🦌🇳🇱

May 6, 2025

The Saint Gerlachus Church is a church building in the South Limburg town of Houthem-Sint Gerlach in the Dutch municipality of Valkenburg aan de Geul. The parish church, dedicated to Saint Gerlach of Houthem, was originally the monastery church of a Norbertine monastery, a noble foundation of which large parts have been preserved (château St. Gerlach). The baroque church building with fresco paintings that are unique in the Netherlands is a national monument and belongs to the 'Top 100 of the National Service for Monument Care' from 1990.

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Elevation 100 m

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Friday 14 November

17°C

13°C

20 %

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Max wind speed: 11.0 km/h

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Location: Valkenburg Aan De Geul, Limburg, Netherlands

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St. Gerlachus Church, Houthem

1. St. Gerlach Castle – Marl Cliff along the Geul loop from Houthem-Sint Gerlach

2. Ingendael Nature Reserve – Marl Cliff along the Geul loop from Houthem-Sint Gerlach

3. Ingendael Nature Reserve – Marl Cliff along the Geul loop from Valkenburg

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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