Holiday apartment in Eckelrade: Nature and village history

Eckelrade lies on the edge of Savelsbos and is surrounded by fields and orchards. Savelsbos is designated as a Natura 2000 site. At the edge of the village, the natural area lies alongside the open spaces of the surrounding countryside. Fields and orchards give the village a rural setting. The landscape around Eckelrade combines natural surroundings with an agricultural environment. These two landscape features can be considered separately when planning your days. The natural area on the edge of the village can be treated as a focus in its own right, alongside the village surrounded by fields and orchards, when planning your days.

Holiday apartment in Eckelrade between nature and history

In the centre of Eckelrade, the Sint-Bartholomeuskerk stands on a small hill. Old farmhouses are part of Eckelrade's village character.

At the edge of Eckelrade, the Antoniuskapel is located at the Klompenstraat-Linderweg crossroads. It is a grotto chapel dating from 1946 and was restored in 2019. A “mei-den”, or maypole, also stands in a nearby square in Eckelrade. The former monastery and the school of the Soeurs de la Miséricorde are also part of the village's history. Both were founded in Eckelrade in 1903; the monastery and school remained active there until 1991. The village's history thus extends from the central church and chapel to the former institutions of the Soeurs de la Miséricorde.

Castles and parks in the surrounding area

The Kasteel van Rijckholt, Kasteel van Mheer, Kasteel Oost and Huis Hoogenweerth castles are located in the vicinity of Eckelrade. Culture enthusiasts will therefore find both religious buildings and historic institutions in Eckelrade itself, as well as four castles in the surrounding area. For those interested in culture, the castles nearby form an additional geographical focus alongside the church, chapel and historic institutions in Eckelrade.

Natural areas and parks also add to the surroundings: Savelsbos Park is located near Eckelrade, as is Eijsderbos Park. Bergse Heide Park and the island of Île de Franche Garenne are also in the surrounding area. The parks and the island expand the landscape around Eckelrade with additional specific places.

Hiking and cycling in Eckelrade

From Eckelrade, you can hike into Savelsbos. The Mergelland Fietsroute West cycle route passes through Eckelrade. A hike from Eckelrade into Savelsbos has a different focus from a circuit on the Mergelland Fietsroute West, which passes through Eckelrade, or a day spent visiting the church, chapel and castle sites. A day of hiking, a cycling tour and the historic sites in the village can therefore be planned as separate day ideas. The hike leads into Savelsbos, while the route passes through Eckelrade; anyone planning both activities can thus distinguish between two different route connections.

More places for orientation

For further travel planning, you can also look at Noorbeek, Bemelen, Margraten, Gronsveld, Mesch and Eijsden.

For the main travel overview: Eijsden-Margraten.