RoutesHiking trails & RoutesBelgiumFlandersSouth LimburgMaaseikBree
Town Hall/Augustinian Monastery – The Vrijthof loop from Bree
RoutesHiking trails & RoutesBelgiumFlandersSouth LimburgMaaseikBree
Town Hall/Augustinian Monastery – The Vrijthof loop from Bree
Easy
7
hikers
Town Hall/Augustinian Monastery – The Vrijthof loop from Bree
01:51
7.31km
10m
Hiking
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.
Last updated: April 17, 2026
Tips
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Waypoints
A
Start point
Bus stop
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1
5.26 km
St. Michael's Church
Highlight • Religious Site
Originally a Romanesque church existed on this site, which was probably founded by the Count of Loon. In 1078, the patronage rights of this church were donated by Countess Ermengardis to the chapter of Saint Bartholomew's Church in Liège.
In the mid-15th century, the construction of the church in Maasland Gothic, first of all the choir, which presumably dates from 1452, started. The ship is from the early 16th century. The Romanesque tower has been preserved. In 1506, Arnold van Mewen and his wife Aleydis Bormans built a Chapel of St. Anne, which forms the current southern transept arm.
In 1606 the spire blew over and damaged the Chapel of Our Lady, which had been built in 1469. Chapel and tower were restored. In 1831 the tower was again dilapidated and was restored. From 1901 to 1902 the church was enlarged, the tower was demolished and a new one built, the nave was extended by one bay in the west, side aisles were added, as well as the northern transept and the sacristy.
In the mid-15th century, the construction of the church in Maasland Gothic, first of all the choir, which presumably dates from 1452, started. The ship is from the early 16th century. The Romanesque tower has been preserved. In 1506, Arnold van Mewen and his wife Aleydis Bormans built a Chapel of St. Anne, which forms the current southern transept arm.
In 1606 the spire blew over and damaged the Chapel of Our Lady, which had been built in 1469. Chapel and tower were restored. In 1831 the tower was again dilapidated and was restored. From 1901 to 1902 the church was enlarged, the tower was demolished and a new one built, the nave was extended by one bay in the west, side aisles were added, as well as the northern transept and the sacristy.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2
5.33 km
War memorial
Highlight • Monument
This memorial was erected in memory of the mentioned fallen during the war of 1914 - 1918 and 1940 - 1945
Translated by Google •
Tip by
3
5.36 km
Town Hall/Augustinian Monastery
Highlight • Historical Site
Bree Town Hall is a former
Augustinian convent from 1657, partly in
renaissance style (Meuse style), partly built in baroque style. It is a very rich building sponsored in the 17th century by Baron De Taxis; he left his estate to the Augustinians because he wanted free secondary education for children from Bree and the surrounding communities.
At the beginning of the 18th century, a baroque chapel was added to the complex. In the chapel there are two side altars with valuable paintings of the
5
Liège baroque painter Englebert Fisen. One is a picture of Saint Nicholas by Tolentino and the other is an Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
In 1797 the building was confiscated by the French. It became a municipal school with a gymnasium in the chapel, a caretaker's house and a gendarmerie with even horse stables and a hayloft. The gendarmerie and horse stables remained there until 1909.
In 1820, part of the building comes into the possession of the city of Bree. In 1884 it becomes a full-fledged episcopal college, the Sint-Michielscollege. In 1992 the Sint-Michielscollege moves outside the center. Through a long lease agreement, the building came back into the possession of the city, which carried out a thorough restoration from 1996 to 2004 and architecturally reduced the building to its essence, namely the Augustinian Monastery. The new town hall was officially opened in 2004. Since 2015, the building with garden is once again the full property of the city.
During the last renovation, modern techniques were combined with respect for the historic character of the building. All new-build elements are at an angle of 10° to the original axis of the building. In some rooms, especially in the current wedding room, beautiful 18th-century murals were painted
exposed.
Special in the town hall is the council chamber, named after our most famous Breeënaar Kim Clijsters. The wooden trusses of the roof are still original 17th century and are the absolute crowd puller.
Source: bree.be
Augustinian convent from 1657, partly in
renaissance style (Meuse style), partly built in baroque style. It is a very rich building sponsored in the 17th century by Baron De Taxis; he left his estate to the Augustinians because he wanted free secondary education for children from Bree and the surrounding communities.
At the beginning of the 18th century, a baroque chapel was added to the complex. In the chapel there are two side altars with valuable paintings of the
5
Liège baroque painter Englebert Fisen. One is a picture of Saint Nicholas by Tolentino and the other is an Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
In 1797 the building was confiscated by the French. It became a municipal school with a gymnasium in the chapel, a caretaker's house and a gendarmerie with even horse stables and a hayloft. The gendarmerie and horse stables remained there until 1909.
In 1820, part of the building comes into the possession of the city of Bree. In 1884 it becomes a full-fledged episcopal college, the Sint-Michielscollege. In 1992 the Sint-Michielscollege moves outside the center. Through a long lease agreement, the building came back into the possession of the city, which carried out a thorough restoration from 1996 to 2004 and architecturally reduced the building to its essence, namely the Augustinian Monastery. The new town hall was officially opened in 2004. Since 2015, the building with garden is once again the full property of the city.
During the last renovation, modern techniques were combined with respect for the historic character of the building. All new-build elements are at an angle of 10° to the original axis of the building. In some rooms, especially in the current wedding room, beautiful 18th-century murals were painted
exposed.
Special in the town hall is the council chamber, named after our most famous Breeënaar Kim Clijsters. The wooden trusses of the roof are still original 17th century and are the absolute crowd puller.
Source: bree.be
Translated by Google •
Tip by
4
5.36 km
The Vrijthof
Highlight • Settlement
The original Vrijthof used to be partly occupied by a walled cemetery (traces of the cemetery wall were partly found during the excavations for the fountain). In 1850 the cemetery was moved to Witte Torenstraat. The name Vrijthof still refers to the cemetery. The area between the current town hall and the cemetery was occupied by a square with trees. In 2005, a water street with a central fountain was built on the square. The water refers to the old well that was already there in 1532. In the 19th century, the wells were replaced by cast-iron city pumps. The arrival of the water pipes has unfortunately ensured that all city pumps have disappeared.
Source: bree.be
Source: bree.be
Translated by Google •
Tip by
5
5.42 km
Bree Town Hall
Highlight • Historical Site
The city of Bree had the Gewanthuis as its city hall, which was located on the Vrijthof. The city council and the court of aldermen met here, the city guard was seated there, and markets were held under this house.
The building was constructed from 1587 to 1591, with a slate roof, a turret and partly brick walls. It housed the magistrates, the court, the aldermen, the militia, the fire brigade, the city guard and a modest arsenal with guns, fuses and bullets. In 1647 the facade was renovated, but in 1755 a new front facade was completed in Louis XIV style, with a pediment in rococo style. On it is a relief depicting the battle of Saint Michael with the dragon, as well as three coats of arms: that of Bree, that of the Austrian emperor, and that of Johan Theodoor van Beieren, the then prince-bishop of Liège.
The old town hall served as such until 1969, after which it housed the tourist office, and since 1975 also the Bree Local History Museum. The town hall moved to a modern building on the Grauwe Torenwal, and in 2004 it moved into the former Sint-Michielscollege.
The building was constructed from 1587 to 1591, with a slate roof, a turret and partly brick walls. It housed the magistrates, the court, the aldermen, the militia, the fire brigade, the city guard and a modest arsenal with guns, fuses and bullets. In 1647 the facade was renovated, but in 1755 a new front facade was completed in Louis XIV style, with a pediment in rococo style. On it is a relief depicting the battle of Saint Michael with the dragon, as well as three coats of arms: that of Bree, that of the Austrian emperor, and that of Johan Theodoor van Beieren, the then prince-bishop of Liège.
The old town hall served as such until 1969, after which it housed the tourist office, and since 1975 also the Bree Local History Museum. The town hall moved to a modern building on the Grauwe Torenwal, and in 2004 it moved into the former Sint-Michielscollege.
Translated by Google •
Tip by
6
5.43 km
Center of gravity of Bree
Highlight • Monument
Coordinates: 51° 08' 34.1'' N - 05° 37' 59.9'' E
This is the aluminum plate that was used to test whether the calculated center of gravity is actually correct. By balancing the plate at one point, the center of gravity could be determined.
The real center of gravity of Bree is on the industrial estate at GreenYard (formerly Scana-Noliko), in the corner of the Roermonderstraat domination and above that is our
with the four-lane road, 't Hasseltkiezel. A 4-meter high screw has been installed that symbolically drills into the ground here.
Source: bree.be
This is the aluminum plate that was used to test whether the calculated center of gravity is actually correct. By balancing the plate at one point, the center of gravity could be determined.
The real center of gravity of Bree is on the industrial estate at GreenYard (formerly Scana-Noliko), in the corner of the Roermonderstraat domination and above that is our
with the four-lane road, 't Hasseltkiezel. A 4-meter high screw has been installed that symbolically drills into the ground here.
Source: bree.be
Translated by Google •
Tip by
7
5.45 km
Perron
Highlight • Monument
At the church is a column that symbolizes the urban freedoms in the Prince-Bishopric of Liège and the fact that Bree was one of the 22 "Good Cities" of the Prince-Bishopric. It is therefore also a reminder of the perpetual alliance between the 22 Good Cities of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, concluded during the St. Denis night on October 3, 1386. The platform was replaced in 1986 on the occasion of the festivities around 600 years of platform rights. The column is crowned by a pine cone and a cross, the prince-bishop's symbols.
Source: bree.be
Source: bree.be
Translated by Google •
Tip by
8
5.81 km
Saint Job Chapel
Highlight • Religious Site
There used to be another chapel here, namely the chapel of Sint-Tienus. It was placed there in 1599 by the then mayor Jan Parisis. But because it was so popular, they moved that chapel to the Opitterpoort (unfortunately, demolished in 1956). Instead, a chapel was erected for the plague saint Saint Job. During the French Revolution, this building suffered major damage, but it was restored in 1814. Around 1833, the chapel was finally demolished. The Nulens-Frencken family built, in 1862, the current Sint-Job chapel.
Source: bree.be
Source: bree.be
Translated by Google •
Tip by
B
7.31 km
End point
Bus stop
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
4.30 km
1.88 km
1.08 km
< 100 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
5.07 km
2.25 km
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Saturday 6 June
19°C
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