Typically you don’t must journey half approach the world over to find some distinctive hidden gems. On this case we solely needed to journey 5 minutes from house for a brilliant particular lodging. I knew the medieval Abbey of Rolduc from again within the day once we used to run the annual Abbey Cross working occasion right here with our main faculty. However after that I truly hadn’t visited this nook of the Netherlands for years, regardless that it’s solely a 5 minute drive away.
We journey to each nook of our world for Traveltomtom, however now it was about time to discover our personal yard for a change and that’s how we ended up staying within the Abbey of Rolduc.
Location
The Abbey of Rolduc is positioned in essentially the most stunning a part of the Netherlands, South Limburg. The Abbey itself is positioned by the German border. It’s actually a number of footsteps from their doorstep till you attain Germany. This location is ideal in the event you additionally need to do some daytrips in direction of Germany or Belgium. Well-known Dutch highlights like Maastricht and Valkenburg are only a half an hours drive away.
The truth that Kerkrade is positioned so near Germany will not be actually a shock in the event you return in time a bit. Kerkrade was a part of the German city Herzogenrath till the Congress of Vienna in 1815 drew the present Dutch-German border which result in the separation of the cities. The jap finish of the town of Kerkrade marks the worldwide border with Germany.
Historical past Rolduc Abbey
The abbey of Rolduc dates again to 1104. Which makes it the oldest abbey within the Benelux. Additionally it is the most important Nationwide Heritage Web site within the Netherlands.
The Abbey of Rolduc functioned as an abbey from 1104 till 1797. The abbey was then known as ‘Kloosterrade’, which later turned ’s Hertogenrade. In French that’s Rode-le-Duc or certainly Rolduc. In the course of the twelfth and thirteenth century the abbey flourished. A number of communities have been based by Kloosterrade. In 1250 the abbey owned greater than 3,000 hectares of land.
In the course of the 14th, fifteenth and sixteenth Centuries instances have been lots tougher for the Abbey. The buildings have been closely broken in the course of the Eighty Years Struggle. The abbey started to prosper once more within the late seventeenth Century, when income was generated from the exploitation of coal mines. Round 1775 Rolduc employed 350 miners.
From 1830 till 1970 Rolduc turned the Catholic schooling heart of the Netherlands. Throughout this era it was additionally a boarding faculty. In 1970 it turned the resort and convention heart it nonetheless is at this time.
The key seminary of the Diocese of Roermond is these days positioned in Rolduc. At the moment there are nonetheless 30 college students in coaching to develop into clergymen, largely international college students.
Humorous reality: Tom, founding father of Traveltomtom, studied throughout highschool at School Rolduc. Sure, positioned in Rolduc Abbey!
Consolation Room – Rolduc Abbey Resort
Rolduc Abbey Resort presents room sorts for everybody and each finances. Their most accessible and inexpensive rooms are the economic system room sort, which embrace shared bogs. These room sorts are sometimes utilized by hikers who do longer distance trails.
Their consolation rooms provide, clearly, extra consolation. These rooms provide personal bogs, comfy beds and a flatscreen tv. We had one in all their consolation rooms and it was primary however excellent.
The views from our room have been the perfect. We neglected an internal courtyard surrounded by some previous components of the abbey, incredible!
The doorways to the rooms open with an precise key. So in the event you don’t lock it from the within, it’s simply open to everybody passing by on the corridors. So everytime you’re in your room, ensure that to lock it from the within, in any other case folks can simply randomly are available.
A keep doesn’t embrace breakfast as commonplace. However be sure you ebook this because the breakfast is absolutely scrumptious. A variety of selections from recent and native merchandise.
Brasserie the Kanunnik
We extremely suggest having fun with at the very least one lunch or dinner at this brasserie. Now we have been fortunate sufficient to eat right here a number of instances throughout our keep, and each time it was merely scrumptious.
Their meals are ready with seasonal merchandise from the area and with herbs from their very personal herb backyard. It isn’t a giant restaurant, however that enhances the environment. Private service and a focus.
A giant shout out from our finish to Ron, head of service of Brasserie the Kanunnik. What a terrific host he’s! He’s tremendous hospitable and has a whole lot of private consideration for all his company. That applies to all workers by the best way. As a result of restricted variety of seats, you should make a reservation upfront by way of reception. Dinner can’t be assured and not using a reserving.
Resort Bar ‘In de Verloren Zoon’
Now we have already seen fairly a number of resort bars, however this one is on the high of the checklist of essentially the most particular resort bars we’ve got ever seen. The resort bar is named ‘In de Verloren Zoon’ and is positioned within the basement of the resort. Truly earlier than turning into a hotelbar this space was used as a wine cellar.
It is the proper place to go for a drink after dinner and to finish the day on a excessive.
Historic Guided Abbey Tour
If in case you have the time to slot in this Historic Guided Tour of the Abbey, then I might actually suggest to do this. Staying on the abbey is tremendous particular.
However this guided tour provides a lot extra info and will get you to locations you wouldn’t in any other case have the ability to go to.
A information takes you on a 1.5 hour guided tour of the abbey and tells you all about its spectacular historical past.
The highlights of this guided tour to us are the go to to the Rolduc Abbey Library.
And the opposite spotlight was visiting the previous Bishop’s Corridor.
Guided excursions of Abbey Rolduc can be found on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Strolling and biking
Rolduc Abbey Resort is the proper base in your strolling or biking route. Many strolling and biking routes begin and finish on the abbey or simply minutes away from it. Rolduc Abbey can be a part of the Hertog Limburg Pad and the Abdijwijnpad.
They’re even an ANWB bicycle service level. Which signifies that they supply a free bicycle service field the place you possibly can perform easy repairs to your bike your self. There may be additionally a motorbike charging level and you may safely and simply retailer your bike of their locked bike shed.
Escape Room Kerkrade
Positioned in one of many side-buildings of the abbey is Escape Room Kerkrade. Escape Rooms have develop into extremely popular over the previous few years. Being a part of the Abbey of Rolduc, we merely needed to take a look at and expertise one in all their rooms.
All of their rooms are embellished to the medieval theme of the Abbey. I feel that’s fairly cool. Additionally the theme of the rooms are impressed by the Abbey. They’ve a complete of 4 escape rooms for as much as 14 folks.
We obtained to do their smallest room for 2-4 folks. They provide a number of packages, additionally mixed with the resort or the brewery. So ensure that to take a look at these guys.
It is a native firm ran by two brothers who do an incredible job. We haven’t accomplished many escape rooms, however we loved this one to the fullest. And that, regardless that we sadly, didn’t escape. In our protection although, I need to add that we have been actually solely 3 minutes away from escaping.
Rolduc Brewery
Rolduc Brewery is the results of three passionate males with a typical passion and a shared love for beer. If you stroll into their tasting room, it appears like strolling in to their mancave that obtained out of hand a little bit. The environment right here is private, amicable and simply extraordinarily relaxed.
The brewery is positioned on the traditional Abbey advanced of Rolduc. Identical to their beers, a spot filled with historical past, fashionable exercise and therefor timeless. The Abbey of Rolduc was a very self-sufficient village during which a beer brewery couldn’t be missed. The brewery dates again to the tenth Century, however has burned down a number of instances over the centuries and has not been put again into operation after the final fireplace, round 1750. That was till 2013 when a father, a son and a son in legislation determined to take their passion of brewing beer to the following degree. They now personal Rolduc Brewery with a incredible tasting room and can be found within the main native supermarkets.
It was a chilly and wet Sunday in March once we visited the brewery. And truthful sufficient, it’s positioned fairly a bit distant. However the tasting room was full of individuals having fun with a pleasant beer on a Sunday. I used to be shocked by the variety of folks that saved turning up right here. This place is totally value a go to, even in the event you don’t keep on the resort. Wim, Wiel and Elmar, thanks in your hospitality!
Kerkrade Theatre
A keep on the resort will be completely mixed with a go to to the theater in Kerkrade. We truly mixed our keep at Rolduc with a stand-up comedy present on the theater.
The theater is small with just one theater room, however it’s my favourite theater in South Limburg to go to. The truth that it’s such a small and comfy theater is strictly its power.
Nice parking alternatives proper subsequent door and positioned within the heart of Kerkrade, the place you’ll find a number of the finest eating places and bars. The theater is only a brief 4 minute drive or 15 minute stroll from the resort.
GaiaZOO
Possibly the nr.1 factor to do and go to in Kerkrade is GaiaZOO. The Zoo was opened in 2005 and is known as after Gaia, the goddess of the Earth.
It’s a very nice zoo to go to, particularly due to all of the bushes and crops all through the park.
The zoo is split into 4 themes, known as Savanna, Taiga, Rainforest and Limburg. As well as, there may be additionally an indoor playground known as DinoDome. Over the previous few years the zoo has gained the award for finest outing within the Netherlands a number of instances. They’ve additionally been voted the perfect zoo within the Netherlands a number of instances. GaiaZOO is only a brief 6 minute drive away from the resort.
Rolduc Abbey Resort, Escape Room Kerkrade and the Rolduc Brewery have shocked and amazed us in each potential approach. Our keep right here exceeded all our expectations.
Abdij Resort Rolduc could also be generally known as a 3-star resort, we had a 5-star keep right here. Their visitor service and a focus are out of this world!
It is a incredible resort in essentially the most superb medieval constructing you possibly can consider. The encompassing space is gorgeous and invitations you to only exit and luxuriate in nature. You don’t get to go to an previous monastery day-after-day. We extremely suggest this place.
A collection of large thanks is so as right here. Firstly to Rolduc Abbey Resort for having us and letting us expertise your superb medieval abbey to the fullest.
Additionally we want to thank Escape Room Kerkrade for internet hosting us in one in all their incredible escape rooms. Final however undoubtedly not least, we want to categorical a giant thanks to Rolduc Brewery for an exquisite afternoon at their brewery and tasting room.
This weblog was written by journey author and Traveltomtom staff member Ashley. She stayed on the medieval Rolduc Abbey within the Netherlands, on behalf of Traveltomtom, and wrote this weblog about her experiences.
Take pleasure in your journey to Kerkrade!
