Selfkant: Church Art, Views and Cycling Route

Discover Selfkant through a range of very different highlights: Gothic sacred architecture and a dated wooden sculpture tell the story of its cultural heritage; in Hillensberg, a hollow way preserved in its original form leads to Schlouner Berg, with views towards the Netherlands and across the Maas Valley. There are also digital tours at two attractions and a cycling route approximately 36 kilometres long. You can therefore plan your trip around historical, scenic or active interests.

Sacred Art and History in Selfkant

The Isenbruch Chapel is dedicated to the Immaculate Virgin. Built in Gothic style from marlstone, it dates from the 15th to 16th century. Its dedication, architectural style and marlstone construction give the chapel several specific historical associations.

Millen became a place of pilgrimage as early as 1126, thanks to the relics of Saint Quirinus. In Tüddern, St Gertrude's Church houses a wooden sculpture of Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child, dated 1513 and created by Jan van Stevenswert. These examples highlight different aspects: the chapel through its Gothic architecture and dedication, Millen through its pilgrimage tradition, and Tüddern through a dated work of art.

Hillensberg: Church, Hollow Way and Views

St Michael's Church in Hillensberg is considered one of the oldest sacred buildings in the region. Schlouner Berg in Hillensberg is 100.4 metres high; from its summit, visitors can enjoy good views towards the Netherlands and across the Maas Valley. A hollow way preserved in its original form leads in Hillensberg to Schlouner Berg, the only mountain in Selfkant.

If you are weighing up a focus on culture against one on scenery when planning your trip, Hillensberg offers both: the church's sacred architectural history and the views from Schlouner Berg.

Digital Tour or Cycling Route

On the “Route of Wonders,” visitors can use a 360-degree tour and/or an audio tour on their own smartphone at two attractions in Selfkant. Check in advance whether your preferred digital tour will be available during your visit.

The approximately 36-kilometre “De geluksplekjesroute Selfkant” offers a different way to explore. It runs through idyllic countryside featuring picturesque streams, wild nature and woodland, and passes all ten places of happiness in the municipality of Selfkant. While the smartphone tour focuses on two attractions, the cycling route links the countryside with all ten places of happiness. Check the current route before setting out.

In the wider destination of Heinsberg

Teverener Heide is a 450-hectare nature reserve in the wider destination of Heinsberg. It stretches across the municipality of Gangelt and the towns of Geilenkirchen and Übach-Palenberg. Its landscape includes open heathland, marshy peatlands, quiet lakes, inland dunes and woodland.

Four circular walking trails offer different distances: the Moor Circular Trail is 5.8 kilometres long, the Heath Circular Trail 6 kilometres, the Lake Circular Trail 7.1 kilometres, and the Great Circular Trail 9.4 kilometres. The trailheads are at the designated car parks in Scherpenseel, Grotenrath and Hohenbusch. This makes it easy to choose a walk based on the specific trail lengths and the landscapes each route highlights.

Discover more destinations: Wassenberg, Übach-Palenberg, Gangelt, Tüddern, Wegberg, Waldfeucht, Holzweiler, Bocket.

Back to the overview of the wider destination: Heinsberg.