Selfkant: Chapels, Views and a Cycling Route

Chapels, Churches and Art

The chapel in Isenbruch is dedicated to the Immaculate Virgin. Dating from the 15th to 16th century, it is a Gothic building made of marlstone. Its construction date, dedication and material offer a tangible impression of the building’s history and design. Anyone interested in sacred architecture can make the chapel a focal point when exploring Selfkant.

The history of pilgrimage is also part of the area’s cultural heritage: thanks to the relics of Saint Quirinus, Millen had become a place of pilgrimage as early as 1126. In Tüddern, the Church of St. Gertrude houses a notable work of art: the wooden sculpture of Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child by Jan van Stevenswert, dating from 1513. The name describes a motif that brings together Anne, Mary and the infant Jesus. Tüddern is therefore home to a specific work of art, while Millen is chiefly associated with its early pilgrimage history.

In Hillensberg, St. Michael’s Church is considered one of the oldest sacred buildings in the region. Together with the chapel in Isenbruch and the Church of St. Gertrude, it offers a cultural itinerary that takes in different places and buildings. If you are interested in historic churches and religious art, these stops can help shape your travel plans.

Schlouner Berg and the Sunken Lane

Schlouner Berg is 100.4 metres high. From here, there are good views towards the Netherlands and across the Maas valley. This makes the hill a clearly defined destination in the landscape: the focus is not on a vast mountain range, but on a single high point that is special to Selfkant.

A sunken lane, preserved in its original form, leads to Schlouner Berg in Hillensberg. If you would like to enjoy the view, you can include this path in your outing. The connection between the sunken lane and the hill gives your visit a clear route without requiring a longer circular walk. The elevation and the described views also help distinguish the hill as a destination in its own right from Selfkant’s cultural stops.

Tours through Selfkant

For a cycling excursion, consider the approximately 36 km “De geluksplekjesroute Selfkant” (“Selfkant’s Happy Places Route”). It passes through idyllic countryside with picturesque streams, wild nature and woodland, and visits all 10 happy places in the municipality of Selfkant. The approximate distance is a useful guide for planning your day; the route is especially suited to travellers who want to combine scenery with several stops by bike.

The “Route voller Wunder” (“Route Full of Wonders”) offers another way to discover the sights. At two attractions in Selfkant, visitors can use a 360-degree tour and/or an audio tour on their own smartphone. This lets you enhance your visit with a digital tour or an audio guide. It offers a different focus from the broader experience of a cycling tour, drawing attention to two individual attractions.

Which Trip Idea Is Right for You?

When looking for a holiday apartment in Selfkant, start with the experiences that interest you most: sacred architecture and art, the views from Schlouner Berg, a cycling tour to the happy places, or digital tours at attractions. These facts point to different travel interests, not to a single prescribed itinerary. So first consider whether you would like to focus your stay more on culture or on the landscape, and which of the experiences described you would like to include in your plans.

Discover More Places

More places: Hückelhoven, Holzweiler, Geilenkirchen, Wassenberg, Waldfeucht, Wegberg, Tüddern and Übach-Palenberg.

For the regional travel overview: Heinsberg.