Brabant's Monastic Life

  • Klooster langs Brabants Kloosterpad, glas in lood.

North Brabant invites you to reflect and wonder. Discover the richness of the Brabant monastic life from the past and the present. Visit (former) monasteries and abbeys, meet the monastics and even stay the night. Find out about centuries-old traditions and crafts, often reflected in monastery products, such as cheese, beer and wine.

Inspiring travel ideas Monastery routes Tips Inspiring locations along the monastery routes On the map

Inspiring travel ideas

Monastery routes

You can explore the Brabant monastic life on foot. Various short and long routes take you past religious heritage sites, vast country estates and stunning nature reserves.

    • Monastery Trail: circular tour Oosterhout

      Monastery Trail: circular tour Oosterhout
      ( 3 hour 11 minutes ) 14.3 km

      Combine the dynamics of the city with the quiet of the countryside on this walking route past three monastery complexes.

    • Monastery Trail: circular tour Zundert

      Monastery Trail: circular tour Zundert
      ( 3 hour 3 minutes ) 13.8 km

      Explore the countryside around the Abbey of Our Lady of Refuge (Abdij Maria Toevlucht) in Zundert and find silence.

    • Monastery Trail: circular walk Huijbergen

      Monastery Trail: circular walk Huijbergen
      ( 3 hour 7 minutes ) 14 km

      Walk through forests and dunes and discover the natural history of the Huijbergen monastery.

    • Monastery walk Boekel and Handel

      Monastery walk Boekel and Handel
      ( 1 hour 30 minutes ) 6.7 km

      This 6.7 km walk will take you through beautiful countryside and historic buildings in the area around Huize Padua

    • Monastery Walk in De Groote Heide

      Monastery Walk in De Groote Heide
      ( 2 hour 30 minutes ) 11.2 km

      This monastery walk will allow you to discover the beautiful countryside around the Achelse Kluis in Hamont-Achel in De Groote Heide heathland.

    • Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Aarle-Rixtel

      Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Aarle-Rixtel
      ( 3 hour 10 minutes ) 14.5 km

      This 13-kilometre circular walk lets you discover the beautiful countryside around the Missionary Convent Holy Blood (Missieklooster Heilig Bloed)...

    • Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Boxmeer

      Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Boxmeer
      ( 55 minutes ) 4.1 km

      The circular walk of 4.1 km takes you past places that tell the story of monastery life in Boxmeer, and past the beautiful embankments of the river...

    • Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Heeswijk-Dinther

      Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Heeswijk-Dinther
      ( 2 hour 20 minutes ) 10.4 km

      This 10.4 km circular walk revolves around the Berne Abbey, both literally and figuratively.

    • Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Megen

      Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Megen
      ( 1 hour) 4.8 km

      The circular walk on this map lets you discover the beautiful countryside around the Poor Clares and Franciscan monastery in Megen. The route is 4....

    • Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Oirschot

      Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Oirschot
      ( 2 hour 10 minutes ) 9.8 km

      Explore the Nazareth monastery and the Holy Oak pilgrimage place in Oirschot.

    • Our Monastery Trail Stage 1 ‘s-Hertogenbosch - Heeswijk

      Our Monastery Trail Stage 1 ‘s-Hertogenbosch - Heeswijk
      ( 5 hour 20 minutes ) 22.5 km

      This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between 's-Hertogenbosch and Heeswijk. It runs from city monastery San Damiano in 's-Hertoge...

    • Our Monastery Trail Stage 2 Heeswijk - Uden

      Our Monastery Trail Stage 2 Heeswijk - Uden
      ( 3 hour 25 minutes ) 18.5 km

      This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Heeswijk and Uden. It runs from the Abbey of Berne in Heeswijk to Maria Refugie Abbe...

    • Our Monastery Trail Stage 3 Uden - Megen

      Our Monastery Trail Stage 3 Uden - Megen

      Limited access

      ( 6 hour 15 minutes ) 28 km

      This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Uden and Megen. It runs from Maria Refugie Abbey and Museum Krona in Uden to St Anto...

    • Our Monastery Trail Stage 4 Megen - Velp

      Our Monastery Trail Stage 4 Megen - Velp
      ( 4 hour 25 minutes ) 20 km

      This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Megen and Velp. It runs from St Antony of Padua Monastery in Megen to the Emmaus Fri...

    • Our Monastery Trail Stage 5 Velp - Sint Agatha

      Our Monastery Trail Stage 5 Velp - Sint Agatha
      ( 5 hour 45 minutes ) 26 km

      This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Velp and Sint Agatha. It runs from Emmaus Friary in Velp to the Monastery of Saint A...

    • Our Monastery Trail Stage 6 Sint Agatha - Boxmeer

      Our Monastery Trail Stage 6 Sint Agatha - Boxmeer
      ( 4 hour) 18 km

      This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Sint Agatha and Boxmeer. It runs from the Monastery of Saint Agatha to the Carmelite...

    • Our Monastery Trail Stage 7 Boxeer – Boekel

      Our Monastery Trail Stage 7 Boxeer – Boekel
      ( 6 hour 25 minutes ) 29 km

      This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Boxmeer and Boekel. It runs from the Carmelite Monastery in Boxmeer to Huize Padua i...

    • Our Monastery Trail Stage 8 Boekel – Aarle Rixtel

      Our Monastery Trail Stage 8 Boekel – Aarle Rixtel
      ( 5 hour) 22.5 km

      This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Boekel and Aarle Rixtel. This route takes you from Huize Padua and museum De Kluis i...

    • Our Monastery Trail Stage 9 Aarle Rixtel - Eindhoven

      Our Monastery Trail Stage 9 Aarle Rixtel - Eindhoven
      ( 6 hour 20 minutes ) 28.5 km

      This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Aarle Rixtel and Eindhoven. This route takes you from Missionary Convent Heilig Bloe...

    • Our Monastery Trail Stage 10 Eindhoven – Vessem

      Our Monastery Trail Stage 10 Eindhoven – Vessem
      ( 4 hour 53 minutes ) 22 km

      This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Eindhoven and Vessem. This route takes you from Mariënhage Monastery in Eindhoven to...

Tips

Inspiring locations along the monastery routes

    • Op de Knip

      Op de Knip Brabant Bicycle Café

      The place where passing cyclists use to stop at a large wooden picnic table has been the location of the cosy, charming Op de Knip since May 2023....

      Plan your route

    • The Kriekeput

      The Kriekeput

      (Nature Gate) De Kriekeput is located in the Herperduin nature reserve. We offer a cozy eatery, a hall, a swimming pool, a terrace, and an outdoor...

      Plan your route

    • Schaapskooi Schijndel

      Schaapskooi Schijndel Plan your route

    • Herberg de Brabantse Kluis

      Herberg de Brabantse Kluis Brabantse Kluis Brabant Bicycle Café

      Have you always wanted to enjoy Heavenly and Earthly dishes between cows and Missionary Sisters? Herberg de Brabantse Kluis is the atmospheric surp...

      Plan your route

    • Lunchcafé Toren4

      Lunchcafé Toren4 Brabant Bicycle Café

      Located in the village centre of Sint-Michielsgestel, just five kilometres from the historic city centre of 's-Hertogenbosch, bicycle and lunch caf...

      Plan your route

    • Megen

      Megen

      The typical fortified town of Megen is a must for anyone interested in religious heritage.

      Plan your route

    • Het Voorhuis Guesthouse

      Het Voorhuis Guesthouse

      Pretend you're in Italy watching the sun setting over the fields, while you're sitting at a long table, enjoying a delicious dinner with ingredient...

      Plan your route

    • Botanical garden Oudenbosch Arboretum

      Botanical garden Oudenbosch Arboretum

      You can find this wonderful botanical garden - about 2700 interesting trees and plants - directly opposite the HH Agatha et Barbara Basilica, which...

      Plan your route

    • Oudenbosch Basilica

      Oudenbosch Basilica

      ‘You don’t know whether you're in the Netherlands or in Rome. Truly impressive,’ declared one surprised visitor to Oudenbosch Basilica.

      Plan your route

    • Op de Knip

      Op de Knip Brabant Bicycle Café

      The place where passing cyclists use to stop at a large wooden picnic table has been the location of the cosy, charming Op de Knip since May 2023....

      Plan your route

    • The Kriekeput

      The Kriekeput

      (Nature Gate) De Kriekeput is located in the Herperduin nature reserve. We offer a cozy eatery, a hall, a swimming pool, a terrace, and an outdoor...

      Plan your route

    • Schaapskooi Schijndel

      Schaapskooi Schijndel Plan your route

    • Kloosterhotel Zin

      Kloosterhotel Zin Plan your route

    • Lunchcafé Toren4

      Lunchcafé Toren4 Brabant Bicycle Café

      Located in the village centre of Sint-Michielsgestel, just five kilometres from the historic city centre of 's-Hertogenbosch, bicycle and lunch caf...

      Plan your route

On the map

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