Sacred houses: myths and legends

You return hundreds of years back in time and get to know the wonderful stories of some popular saints such as Bertilia, who protected children from all kinds of diseases and St. Roch's, for centuries invoking against the plague.

This cycle tour is part of four routes designed by the network of Open Churches, "Rulers and Saints, Religious Heritage around Alden Biesen". 28 churches and heritage buildings in Limburg open their doors to share their history, their treasures and their unique atmosphere with you. These routes will take you back to the time of popular devotion, pilgrimages and hermits. You will meet the first Christians and the noble lords who shaped these beautiful buildings. You will learn more about the land commanders and monastic superiors who exerted their influence far beyond the walls of their domain. 

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1. Apostelhuis – Bilzen

   The impressive gatehouse of Alden Biesen was the former main entrance to the estate. The gate tower overlooks Maastricht. The gatekeeper stayed in the adjacent trumpet house. The apostle's house was originally intended as a residence for twelve needy people from the area (...)

2. Sint-Martinuskerk – Martenslinde

   This church was founded by the abbey of Munsterbilzen. The TIENDERECHT was partly in the hands of the abbey and partly in those of the commandery of Alden Biesen. The Gothic choir (ca. 1400) of the old church has been preserved (...)

3. De Gouden Tak – Martenslinde

   This café is a renovated square farm in rustic style. It is located near LandcommanderijAlden Biesen. Recommended is the beautiful garden terrace where you can enjoy the sunshine.

4. Sint-Ursulakerk – Eigenbilzen

   This colourful, neo-gothic church was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The tower is much older. It is built in marlstone. The bright interior of the church has recently been completely restored and contains some showpieces such as the oak pulpit whose shell is carried by a woman with a cross and a chalice in her hand (...)

5. Kapel O.L.V. van Altijddurende Bijstand – Lanaken

   There has been a small chapel here for centuries. It is dedicated to Our Lady and, together with the two enormous chestnut trees, is a landmark in the rolling landscape. Many couples left their initials on both sides of the door.

6. Sint-Kwintensfietskluis – Hees

   The old church of Hees had been in serious decline since the 1970s. Only the 14th century tower and part of the aisle have been preserved. After a long period of vacancy, the church was given a new function as a bicycle locker. You can spend the night here as a cyclist in one of the two camping huts. On the ground floor there is a meeting area for the neighbourhood (...)

7. Merovingian burial site - Bilzen

   In the 50's and 60's archaeologists exposed the remains of a Roman villa here. In the rubble of this villa they found a merovingian graveyard, of which 120 graves were examined: 43 men, 44 women, 18 children and 35 plundered graves (...)

8. Bertilia source - Rosmeer

   At the Bertilia source, Rosmerta, the Celtic goddess of fertility and abundance, was worshipped in the past. This ritual was given a Christian touch in the seventh century, after which the source became a well-known place of pilgrimage (...)

9. Sint-Pieterskerk – Rosmeer

   Rosmeer is an old parish, but how far back her history goes is unknown. The earliest written document about the parish is a charter of Henry II, bishop of Liège, from 1148. The tower of the church probably dates from the 12th century. It probably first served as a defence tower (...)

10. Sint-Lambertuskerk – Grote-Spouwen

    In 1220, the abbey of Hocht (Lanaken) was granted the right of patronage over the church. Over the centuries, the building was regularly repaired by the abbeys of the abbey, which sometimes had the year of the repairs carried out as a reminder. However, during the French Revolution, the abbey lost its rights (...)

11. Church of the Great Commandery – Alden Biesen

    A legend lies at the origin of the foundation of a chapel in Biesen. According to the story, at the beginning of the 13th century there were fierce disputes in the region. Our Lady appeared and asked for a chapel to be built for her, on which peace would return (...)

12. Great Commandery of Alden Biesen

    Alden Biesen was a country commandery of the Teutonic Order. In 1220 they received the land from Alden Biesen. This complex was at the head of a long belt of commanderies that stretched from Bekkevoort all the way to Bonn. These were accountable to the land commander. He led the Alden Biesen complex.