The best traffic-free bike rides around Nuth

A nice marketplace with many opportunities for a break.

The kiln originated during the lime shortage in World War I, when imports from abroad were lacking. Local entrepreneurs in Limburg burned local limestone into quicklime (CaO) for building mortar, plaster, and construction purposes – a simple process at 900–1200 °C. (Cement: Needs rotary kilns at >1400 °C for clinker formation). Today, the dilapidated kiln is an industrial monument at the foot of the Curfsgroeve and part of the Mergel history.

Father Karel, born Joannes Andreas Houben on December 11, 1821, in Munstergeleen, grew from an ordinary Limburg boy into a special figure for many. His life path led him via Belgium to England and Ireland. Because he spoke poor English, he could not preach, but with his listening ear and involvement, he offered comfort to the sick and those in need. According to tradition, he even healed some people. He was seen as a source of hope, and even after his death, his influence remained great. In Ireland, many people gathered to bid him farewell. In his native region, his memory lives on. Near his parental home on the Geleenbeek, a barn was converted into a Mary chapel, where visitors still come for peace, prayer, or a moment of reflection.

A small chapel in the middle of a crossroads

A pleasant tourist resort in the Heuvelland region with good infrastructure (supermarkets and many restaurants)

Delicious artisanal lunch and coffee

Hidden in the gentle rolling hills of South Limburg lies the Mariakapel of Kelmond, a small but meaningful chapel that has been a place of peace, faith, and reflection for generations for residents and passers-by alike. Surrounded by greenery, country lanes, and the open landscape, this place exudes a modest simplicity that perfectly suits its spiritual function. The chapel was erected as an expression of popular devotion, a tradition deeply rooted in Limburg. Such Marian chapels often arose out of gratitude, for protection, or as a pilgrimage site for those seeking support in difficult times. This chapel too grew into a place of silence where one lights a candle, prays, or simply comes to oneself. Architecturally, the chapel is modest but characterful: a classic brick building with a gable roof, a niche with a statue of Mary, and often accompanied by a small bench or floral offering. Inside, a serene silence prevails, broken only by the whisper of the wind or the singing of birds outside. The chapel's location makes it extra special. From here, you look out over rolling fields and orchards, while walking and cycling routes regularly visit this spot as a resting point. The contrast between the open landscape and the seclusion of the chapel enhances the feeling of tranquility. The Mariakapel of Kelmond is not a grand monument, but that is precisely what makes it so powerful: a modest beacon of silence, a place where landscape and faith meet, and where time seems to stand still for a moment. 🌿🕯️

St. Catherine's Church. On May 8th, we celebrate the anniversary of the consecration of our church. In 1905, it was solemnly and ceremonially consecrated by Mgr. Drehmans, the then Bishop of Roermond. The church was built in a relatively short time. The foundation stone was laid on May 29, 1904, and the church was ready for use on January 10, 1905. The early history of our parish goes back many centuries. Even before 1400, a chapel in Berchem was mentioned, which had Saint Catherine of Alexandria as its patron saint. The veneration of this saint was brought to our region by the Crusaders from the Holy Land. This chapel was probably located near the current house at Groot Berghem No. 19. This chapel was cared for by the (deanery) parish of Meerssen. It had a bell tower, and according to old charters, a priest was required to say Mass there at least once a year. This undoubtedly happened more often. After the French period, in 1803, the residents of Ulestraten learned that they would soon have their own rector and be allowed to form their own auxiliary parish. Initially dependent on Meerssen, the parish became independent in 1833. Father Thomas Voncken, a native of Waterval, was appointed the first rector of the chapel in Berchem. This Thomas Voncken was of great importance to the development of the new independent parish. Risking his own life, he had already secretly performed pastoral duties during the French occupation, against French regulations, "with such zeal that not a sick person died without the sacraments," as his prayer card states. After his appointment as rector, he immediately devoted himself to the construction of his own church. The centuries-old chapel in Berchem was, after all, Source/info: https://federatie-edithstein.nl/ulestraten/het-kerkgebouw-st-catharina/