Magnificent churches in Sittard-Geleen

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Sittard was built at the end of the 19th century by architect J. Kayser from Venlo. The church is built in neogothic style, a style more common in the north of the country than in Limburg. Above the main entrance inside the porch, a white marble plaque has been inserted. This was made in Rome and sent to Sittard in 1883, when the church - the first in the Netherlands - was awarded basilica status. For many years, the church has served as a place of pilgrimage. The church is still visited by modern-day pilgrims to give thanks or ask for a favour.

The official name of the Grote Kerk (or St Petruskerk), is the church of St Peter’s Chair at Antioch. A single-nave church stood on this spot around the time of the First Millennium. The main fabric of the current church dates back to the end of the 14th century and is built in so-called Maasland gothic style, with the nave being the oldest part and the sanctuary the newest. The church is constructed in the shape of a crucifix. The early 15th century choir stalls are the oldest in the Netherlands and the pulpit, dating from 1774, is a wonderful example of woodcarving. Behind the choir is the treasury, containing reliquaries, liturgical robes, chalices and other ecclesiastical utensils. The tower was probably completed around 1505.

After a few years the Basilica was no longer able to cope with the large influx of pilgrims. To solve this problem, the Mariapark was built opposite the church. The name is misleading since in actual fact, this is not a park but a courtyard with a garden, surrounded by a neogothic quadrangle. The garden is hidden from the street by a wide front porch, a place of rest for pilgrims. From here there is a view into the interior of the church. The Mariapark is a listed building where numerous activities and exhibitions can be enjoyed today.

St Michielskerk, or church of St Michael, was built by Dominican monks between 1659 and 1668 on the site of St Catharine’s hospice. The church is constructed in baroque style, so typical of the South Netherlands. The small lion next to the entrance door is a reference to Asor , the escaped lion who walked into the church during mass on the feast of St Rosa in 1938. Notable features in the church’s interior include the imposing baroque high altar - unique in the Netherlands - and the richly carved oak panelling along both sides of nave. The artworks present in the church all reflect the time of the counter-reformation.

The Sint Rosakapel (or chapel of St Rosa) is on the Kollenberg, a hill outside Sittard. It is a small building with a long history. Built in 1675, the chapel is dedicated to St Rosa, the patron saint of Sittard. In 1668 a dysentery epidemic which claimed many lives broke out in Sittard. Through the intercession of St Rosa, the contagion ceased. In return, the city fathers promised to hold a procession on the last Sunday of August every year from St Michael’s church to St Rosa’s chapel. Sittard has kept its promise and since 1675 a procession of thanks has taken place every year. In August the chapel is open to visitors from 2 to 4.30 pm

The history of the ancient Salviuskerk dates back to the end of the 10th or the beginning of the 11th century. Of the original single-nave church, only the pebble-built north wall remains. During restoration work between 1977 and 1984, murals were found in the chancel, the oldest ever found in a parish church in the Netherlands. These paintings date from around 1300 and can be visited today. A brass reliquary allegedly containing fragments of bones of St Salvius were also found. The church can be visited on Easter Monday and every first Sunday of the month from May to September (2 to 5 pm). Private visits with a guide are possible by appointment, call 046-4515908.

This small hermitage dating from 1699 is one of the most eye-catching monuments in Geleen. It is a three-sided building made of brick with marlstone banding and with a typical roof window. After its most recent restoration in 1985, the Sint Janskluis was converted into a small wayside chapel. It is now often used for baptisms or anniversaries. In addition, the building is used several times a year for exhibitions and recitals.

Joannes Andreas Houben, better known as Pater Karel van Sint Andries, was born in Munstergeleen on 11 December 1821. ‘Father Charles’ was canonised in Rome in 2007. His birthplace is a half-timbered farmhouse, typical of the region and well worth the visit. To the left of the complex is the oil mill, and to the right the sawmill. In 1954, the outhouse was turned into a chapel and is open from 9 am to 6 pm. In 2012, a contemporary building was completed containing a museum and shop selling religious items. Open from Tuesday to Sunday afternoons from 2 to 5 pm.

Are you planning a nice cycle ride along the Meuse or the Julianakanaal? If so, make a detour to Schipperskerk, a delightful settlement between the villages of Papenhoven en Grevenbicht. In 1949, a church (Schipperskerk) and rectory were built here to serve as a religious and cultural meeting place for skippers navigating the Julianakanaal. A small nucleus of houses formed around the church, named eponymously, where some skippers settled down after retiring. The church itself, designed by architect Louis Oberndorff, was dedicated to the apostles Peter and Paul.