At Traveltomtom we love to indicate you all corners of the world. The crazier a vacation spot sounds, the extra curious we’re. We like to journey the world and present you different nations and cultures. However what’s simply as a lot enjoyable as exhibiting you the world? Exhibiting you Traveltomtom’s dwelling! We have now been exploring our personal yard for the previous few weeks, and have found some hidden gems in Limburg and only in the near past we reviewed the Merici Lodge in Sittard, a lodge housed in a monastery!
It’s a restored monastery positioned within the monastery quarter in Sittard. The lodge opened again in 2011, however went bankrupt in 2017. A brand new begin was made only some months later due to a brand new proprietor and investor.
The brand new begin additionally meant a serious growth of the lodge. It initially had 43 rooms, however after the brand new begin they expanded to the present 86 rooms. A brand new wing was added to the lodge to make this attainable. The vaulted cellar beneath the lodge was transformed into a beautiful restaurant, that’s now generally known as Bistrot Volte and a hip and trending hotspot in Sittard.
From 2022 MERICI Lodge could bear the title of MGallery Lodge Assortment. This assortment of chosen and uniquely curated accommodations worldwide is a part of the Accor Resorts, one among worlds greatest main lodge teams. After INK Lodge Amsterdam, MERICI Lodge would be the second Dutch lodge to bear the title of MGallery.
Since Traveltomtom is from The Netherlands you will discover a wide selection of attention-grabbing articles about our nation on our journey weblog. Are you planning to journey to The Netherlands then take a look at our article about the very best locations to go to in The Netherlands.
Historical past of the monastery
Angela Merici, namesake of the lodge, was an Italian non secular. She is the founding father of the Ursulines, who based the unique a part of the monastery, these days the classical wing of the lodge.
The Monastery Quarter is an ensemble of seven nationwide monuments. It as soon as consisted of two separate monasteries, the Dominican Monastery and the Ursuline Monastery, positioned on both facet of the Basilica. Over the centuries, the buildings have been expanded, to finally a steady complicated.
The Dominican Monastery was constructed within the seventeenth century by the Dominican Fathers. A number of monastic orders have been energetic right here, together with the Jesuits and the Franciscans. All three monastic communities offered training. At present the complicated serves as an condo complicated and lodge.
Sittard a Place of Pilgrimage
One thing I by no means knew, and discovered whereas staying on the MERICI Lodge is that Sittard has all the time been a spot of pilgrimage, and nonetheless is right now. The Monastery Quarter can also be dwelling to the Basilica and the Maria Park. Sittard was a spot of pilgrimage, however the chapel of the Ursulines Monastery quickly grew to become too small for the massive inflow of pilgrims. The plans for the Basilica had been made in 1873, and the development was completed in 1877. Within the years following the numbers of pilgrimages grew quick. So quick that even de Basilica grew to become too small, so that they constructed and opened the Mariapark throughout the road. The Mariapark is a posh consisting of 4 wings round an interior backyard. The constructing was accomplished within the nineteenth century and was used as a resting place and residence for pilgrims.
The Basilica continues to be visited day by day by pilgrims and particular person pilgrims to present thanks or ask for a favor. Each the Basilica and the Mariapark are open to the general public freed from cost.
Location Merici Lodge
The MERICI Lodge is positioned within the Monastery Quarter in Sittard. It’s the oldest a part of Sittard, and after visiting town, we expect it’s the very best a part of Sittard too!
It’s positioned proper within the heart of Sittard, only a minute stroll from the market sq. and the procuring streets. A major location, you gained’t discover a higher one.
Regardless that you’re proper within the heart of town, you don’t discover it. MERICI Lodge is surrounded by gardens, so even if you go outdoors, you hear nothing however the sounds of nature.
I loved the rising solar on our balcony each morning, and regardless that I may nearly see the market sq., I may solely hear the birds chirping, the very best!
The central location of the lodge makes it simply accessible by public transport. Travelling by automotive is not any downside both. The ODA parking Sittard is positioned only a 2 minute stroll from the lodge, and even has a non-public parking space for lodge company. The general public automotive park will value you €5,- per 24 hours, wish to park on the personal lodge parking, that may value you €15,- per 24 hours.
Gardens
MERICI Lodge is surrounded by gardens, which is kind of distinctive contemplating it’s positioned within the coronary heart of the middle of Sittard. The key and unknown gardens of Sittard inform an exquisite story. MERICI Lodge is positioned on 5 of the 27 metropolis gardens in Sittard. Take a stunning metropolis stroll by means of this historical and comfortable metropolis, the easiest way to spend a morning or afternoon on this metropolis.
The gardens adjoining to MERICI Lodge are: Ursuline gardens, Cour Solanus, Jardin D’Isabelle and town wall of Sittard.
The Ursuline Gardens had been realized in 1993 within the former gardens of the monastery of the Ursulines, therefore the title of the gardens. The backyard consists of part of town canal, just a few rose beds, a pear lane and a playground, the cemetery of the Ursulines can also be nonetheless current within the gardens.
The Cour Solanus and Jardin d’Isabelle are positioned in entrance of the lodge on the facet the place Restaurant George’s is positioned. Lovely, peaceable and quiet gardens, the place you’ll be able to retreat from the hustle and bustle of town.
Town wall additionally runs alongside the lodge, from this wall you could have a stupendous view of the Cour Solanus, Jardin d’Isabelle and MERICI Lodge.
Restaurant George’s
Restaurant George’s is the nice eating hidden gem and the most effective eating places in Sittard! It’s a stupendous culinary hotspot, hidden in a small alley, with two secret gardens. The restaurant is positioned within the imposing, 5 meter excessive, previous refectory.
The restaurant has an open kitchen on an elevation, no secrets and techniques from the cooks right here. Through the renovation of the restaurant, increasingly unique components appeared, akin to an previous beamed ceiling and exquisite forged iron ornaments and beams. They’ve blended them completely into their design.
Restaurant George’s is your house to go for some true nice eating. You possibly can select for a 3, 4, 5 or 6 course dinner, even with some surprises earlier than and in between, like some nice apetizers and pre dessert.
We had been fortunate sufficient to eat right here the primary night of our keep, and really loved the ambiance and the scrumptious meals.
Compliments to the workers of George’s, who’re very worldwide, so not all of them communicate Dutch, however their service was wonderful! Restaurant George’s is subsequent degree and undoubtedly value making a reservation when visiting Sittard.
Enjoyable Reality: Restaurant George’s has already hosted the revealing of the brand new Lexus NX and the Administrators’ Dinner of Fortuna Sittard Soccer Membership additionally came about right here.
Bistrot Volte
Bistrot Volte is the opposite restaurant on the MERICI Lodge. It’s your place to go for the faster chew, a relaxed lunch or dinner in an intimate ambiance.
It’s extra informal than George’s, however nonetheless fairly stylish.
The vaults have been restored and provides the place an intimate feeling.
The spacious terrace that floats above the water; in the course of the ‘secret gardens’ of Sittard, providing pure rest.
Traveltomtom’s Journey Tip for Sittard
A camini is a really brief pilgrimage expertise. Not everybody has the time to take weeks or months off to stroll to Spain on a pilgrimage. One of many issues you are able to do in Sittard and environment is to expertise a camino within the South Limburg panorama. There are 11 caminis (routes) you’ll be able to select from. These pilgrimage walks all go alongside the unique Jacob’s route and are particularly designed for reflection and consciousness, similar to if you would stroll to Santiago de Compostela.
We walked one among these camini’s, because it completely suits within the pitcture right here. We walked route two, referred to as the senses route, as a result of there’s a lot magnificence to see. The stroll stimulates all of the senses. Life is quick on a regular basis, so stroll, take pleasure in and mirror in South Limburg!
Our lunch tip when staying in Sittard couldn’t match the subject higher. In reality, when strolling the senses camini route you truly move this brasserie in your route. That’s how we discovered this place.
Brasserie Abshoven is positioned in an previous church, and consider me, that’s really spectacular, and one thing else!
Behind the church you’ll discover a stupendous and quiet terrace. It overlooks the Absbroeks forrest and the Geleenbeekdal nature reserve.
Merici Lodge Sittard Assessment
We stayed within the newer and trendy a part of the lodge. Throughout our keep, the basic a part of the lodge was occupied by Ukrainian conflict refugees. MERICI Lodge at present hosts about 90 refugees. It’s a tragic factor that that is crucial, however nicely finished MERICI Lodge for giving these folks a short lived dwelling, nice job!
In case you have by no means visited Sittard earlier than, you undoubtedly ought to begin interested by visiting! Sittard has an historical and comfortable metropolis heart, and is the right gateway to South Limburg and the Heuvelland.
We extremely suggest staying on the MERICI Lodge when visiting Sittard. It merely has the very best location you’ll be able to consider, and the historic and historical Monastery Quarter actually add to your general expertise. It’s a particular place, and you’ll go away with particular recollections for positive.
They used to supply guided excursions of the lodge and the Monastery Quarter, which sadly aren’t operating for the time being. I feel it’s very unlucky and an awesome loss that these excursions are at present not being provided. I might like to see these excursions coming again to you MERICI!
This weblog was written by journey author and Traveltomtom staff member Ashley. She stayed on the pretty Merici Lodge in Sittard, on behalf of Traveltomtom, and wrote this lodge evaluate weblog about her keep and experiences.
