Cycling loop Sint Agatha | Brabant Monastery Trail
Start at Saint Agatha Convent and cycle a loop through Boxmeer and Sint Anthonis before returning to Saint Agatha Convent.
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This 49-km cycle loop takes you through the relaxing countryside. Just like the monastics, learn to focus on what really matters in life. In De Vilt Nature Reserve, you will find plenty of space to slow down. Continue the route past various monasteries, chapels and churches, before returning to the charming Saint Agatha Convent.
What is it like to live in a monastery? A visit to the Erfgoedcentrum (heritage centre) in Saint Agatha Convent offers a glimpse behind the scenes. And why not take a stroll through the convent garden while you are there?
New energy for body and mind
Here, in this natural green bubble beside the oldest still-inhabite…
This 49-km cycle loop takes you through the relaxing countryside. Just like the monastics, learn to focus on what really matters in life. In De Vilt Nature Reserve, you will find plenty of space to slow down. Continue the route past various monasteries, chapels and churches, before returning to the charming Saint Agatha Convent.
What is it like to live in a monastery? A visit to the Erfgoedcentrum (heritage centre) in Saint Agatha Convent offers a glimpse behind the scenes. And why not take a stroll through the convent garden while you are there?
New energy for body and mind
Here, in this natural green bubble beside the oldest still-inhabited monastery in the Netherlands, you can leave the hustle and bustle of everyday life behind. The silence and space invite you to reflect. Take in the scents, colours and sounds and feel yourself re-energised. A sense of calm runs like a thread through this nature-rich cycle loop: the gentle repetition of meadows and trees, chapels and monasteries – everything you encounter along the way encourages you to slow down. Not necessarily on the bike, but in your mind. Cycling becomes a combination of physical exertion and reflection. It’s a fitting parallel to monastic life, where demanding physical and spiritual labour defined the daily schedule. By staying focused along the way, you too can keep your attention on what really matters in life.
Cycle or walk the Brabant Monastery Trail
North Brabant is home to hundreds of monastery buildings, more than forty of which are still inhabited. A range of short- and long-distance routes take you through Brabant’s rich monastic heritage, past numerous monasteries and abbeys that tell the story of monastic life then and now. You can, for example, walk the 300-km Brabant Monastery Trail, or cycle the Brabant Monastery Trail, covering more than 700 km. These long-distance routes are divided into multiple stages. If you would prefer a shorter route, choose one of the lovely circular walks or cycle loops. Brabant invites you to slow down, find stillness and wonder.
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Tips from Brabant residents
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St. Agatha Convent
A convent of the past, present and future. St. Agatha Convent is the oldest convent in the Netherlands still to be inhabited. As you approach the village of St. Agatha, the convent can be seen from far and wide. It has been inhabited co
Kloosterlaan 245435 XD Sint Agatha
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Klostergarten des Klosters St. Agatha
In der Nähe der Maas, inmitten von Feldern, liegt im äußersten Osten der Provinz Nordbrabant das Kloster St. Agatha. Die Kapelle erhebt sich aus der Landschaft, geschützt durch einen Deich.
Maasheggen UNESCO
The Meuse hedgerows consist of long rows of centuries-old hawthorn and blackthorn hedges. They serve as property boundaries, and their prickly nature also prevents livestock from easily escaping the enclosure.
De Vilt Nature Reserve
De Vilt Nature Reserve is an ancient meander of the River Meuse.
Church of the Assumption
In Beugen, you’ll pass the Church of the Assumption, built in 1420, which features a 17th-century choir and was restored by Pierre Cuypers in 1879. The tower was blown up during the war.
Former Mariahof Convent
On Hagelkruisstraat, you can see the former Mariahof convent of the Sisters of Mercy of St. Charles Borromeo. They came here from Kleve in 1876 to teach children, nurse the sick, and comfort the unfortunate.
Julie Postel Convent
Julie Postel was a teacher in the fishing village of Barfleur in Normandy who taught children from poor families and took in orphans.
Nepomuk chapel
The Nepomuk chapel dates back to 1737 and was erected to replace the chapel inside the castle.
Carmelite Monastery
The Carmelite Monastery consists of four wings arranged around a cloister walk.
Carmelite Monastery Boxmeer
It is thanks to Count Albert of Bergh and Countess Madeleine of Cusance that there is a Carmelite monastery here.
Saint Peter's Basilica
Saint Peter Basilica was built after the Second World War, after the previous church was completely destroyed in 1944.
Former monastery De Weijer and Weijerpark
House De Weijer had a religious function from as early as the fifteenth century, being the house where the local vicar lived.
St. Anthony's Monastery
The St. Anthony Convent of the Sisters of Charity of Schijndel was founded on December 15, 1896.
St. Agatha Convent
A convent of the past, present and future. St. Agatha Convent is the oldest convent in the Netherlands still to be inhabited. As you approach the village of St. Agatha, the convent can be seen from far and wide. It has been inhabited co
Kloosterlaan 245435 XD Sint Agatha
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Route features
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