Brabant Monastery Trail: circular tour Vessem
Experience a pilgrim’s life
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This tour allows you to explore the beautiful countryside around the pilgrims’ hostel Capernaum. It starts at the pilgrims’ hostel Capernaum. The route takes you past the Lambertuskerk, the Kabouterberg, the Saint Pancras church and tower and the Jacobushoeve.
North Brabant monastery life
While walking, become acquainted with the life and work of the Brabant monks and nuns – then and now. Brabant Monastery Trail takes you past around fifty-five monasteries and abbeys in North Brabant in various stages. The total length of the trail is 330 kilometres, but there are also beautiful trails marked out around various monasteries.
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Signposting of the Monastery trail
Simply follow the signs and walk along the route from one numbered junction to the next.
Signposting of the Monastery trail
Simply follow the signs and walk along the route from one numbered junction to the next.
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Hotline routes
Hotline routesIf there is something wrong on the route, report it here.
Tips from Brabant residents
Skip map elementsLocations on this route
Kafarnaüm Pilgrims’ Hostel
The Pilgrims’ Hostel is located just behind the church in Vessem. Since the late 1970s, the farmhouse had served as a friary for several brothers of the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Servatiusstraat 115512 AJ Vessem
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St. Lambertus Church in Vessem
The origins of St. Lambertus Church date back to the Middle Ages. At that time, the right to appoint priests in Vessem rested with the chapter of Oirschot.
Our Lady’s Chapel in Hoogeloon
Our Lady’s Chapel was a gift from the town of Hoogeloon to Harrie Beex, the parish priest at the time. The chapel was designed by architect Jos Bedaux (1910–1989) of Tilburg.
St. Pancratius Tower
The St. Pancratius Tower was built around 1400. Inside the tower hangs a tithe bell dating from 1435. The tithe bell announced the arrival of the tithe collector.
St. Pancratius Church
The tower of St. Lambert’s Church dates back to the 15th century (c. 1475) and is known as a fine example of Kempen Gothic architecture. The church was founded by the chapter of Oirschot.
Hoogeloon Protestant Church
This striking red church, built in 1822, was commissioned by Louis Napoleon because, after the church was returned to the Catholics in 1809, the Protestants also needed a place of worship.
Former Sint-Pancratius dairy factory
In the late 1800s, a deep and prolonged agricultural crisis gripped the world. This crisis prompted Gerlacus van den Elsen (1853–1925), a Norbertine monk and farmer’s son, to launch an initiative to lift Brabant farmers out of poverty and backwardness.
Black Mountain
The Black Mountain is one of the largest Bronze Age burial mounds in the Netherlands and Belgium; it was constructed around 1500 BC by piling up sods of heather.
Jacobushoeve
The Jacobushoeve opened its doors in 1991 as a thrift store and community center, and was founded by the brothers. Brother Fons walked to Santiago de Compostela.
Kafarnaüm Pilgrims’ Hostel
The Pilgrims’ Hostel is located just behind the church in Vessem. Since the late 1970s, the farmhouse had served as a friary for several brothers of the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Servatiusstraat 115512 AJ Vessem
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Route features
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