Monastic life has brought much to North Brabant. Get to know the life and work of the Brabant monks and nuns, then and now. Our Monastery Trail takes you past fifty (former) monasteries and abbeys in Brabant in fifteen stages. There are also beautiful shorter walks around many of the monasteries and convents. You can find the stages and circular walks on this page.
Of the more than 660 buildings in North Brabant that served as monasteries, 450 are still in existence. Many of these buildings have since been given a different use. They have become hotels, museums, retreat centres, homes, offices and more. But some are and will continue to be monastaries.
Our Monastery Trail is a 330-kilometre walking route which passes these existing and former monasteries. Walking past fifty locations and through the beautiful surrounding countryside, you will become acquainted with monastic life in North Brabant.
There are beautiful circular walks around many of the monasteries and convents along Our Monastery Trail, varying from 2.5 to 12 kilometres. These walks start and end at the same monastery.
All routes make use of the local numbered junction network. The circular walks will be published on this page during this year.
The circular walk on this map lets you discover the beautiful countryside around...
1 hour (4.8 km)Explore the Nazareth monastery and the Holy Oak pilgrimage place in Oirschot.
2 hour (9.8 km)This 10.4 km circular walk revolves around the Berne Abbey, both literally and figuratively.
2 hour (10.4 km)This 13-kilometre circular walk lets you discover the beautiful countryside around...
2 hour 45 minutes (13.0 km)Carousel, use arrow keys to navigate.
Our Monastery Trail is 330 kilometres long and consists of fifteen stages, varying from 16.5 to 28 kilometres in length. You can walk the stages separately, from monastery to monastery. There are even a number of monasteries where you can stay overnight. That way you can make it a multi-day hike.
Click on the map to enlarge
This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Vught and 's-Hertogenbosch....
3 hour 10 minutes (15.6 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Biezenmortel and Vught....
5 hour 7 minutes (23.0 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Berkel-Enschot and...
4 hour 27 minutes (20.0 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Oirschot and Berkel-Enschot....
5 hour 31 minutes (24.8 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Vessem and Oirschot....
5 hour (22.5 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Eindhoven and Vessem....
4 hour 53 minutes (22.0 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Aarle Rixtel and Eindhoven....
6 hour 20 minutes (28.5 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Boekel and Aarle Rixtel....
5 hour (22.5 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Boxmeer and Boekel....
6 hour 27 minutes (29.0 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Sint Agatha and Boxmeer....
4 hour (18.0 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Velp and Sint Agatha....
5 hour 47 minutes (26.2 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Megen and Velp. It...
4 hour 27 minutes (20.0 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Uden and Megen. It...
6 hour 13 minutes (28.0 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Heeswijk and Uden....
3 hour 30 minutes (18.5 km)This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between 's-Hertogenbosch and...
5 hour (22.5 km)Carousel, use arrow keys to navigate.
A number of monasteries along the route have the option of staying the night. Always check in advance what is possible, some monasteries are only open on certain days. There are also other accommodations along the route such as monastery hotels, often with a connection to monastic life. For all locations and up-to-date information, please visit brabantskloosterleven.nl (Dutch language).
Photos: Birgitta de Vos, Bindboek
Would you like to stay the night at the start or finish of a hike or at a beautiful spot along Our Monastery Trail? There are many hospitable hotels, B&Bs, campsites and other locations where you can stay the night in the trail’s surroundings.
Find your ideal accommodation in the list of places to stay in Brabant. First choose the type of accommodation and then enter the name of the town or village where you want to stay. You will then see a selection of options in the area.
