Discover Ell: Church, Nature and Historic Paths

Ell offers points of connection for a trip in which cultural history, nature observation and physical activity can be weighted in different ways.

Church and Medieval History

Ell originated in the late Middle Ages and historically belonged to the Abbey Principality of Thorn. In 1492, a late Gothic chapel was founded and built in Ell. In 1808, Ell was elevated to an independent parish; its patron saint is Saint Anthony the Abbot.

The Sint-Antonius-Abt Church in Ell is a Rijksmonument with monument number 22866. The present Neo-Romanesque Sint-Antoniuskerk was built in 1912 to a design by the architect Caspar Franssen and replaced the previous building. Its tower was blown up in 1944, and the church was restored after the war. In 1953, the tower was rebuilt under the direction of Jasper Franssen, and the church was extended to the west.

The surviving details include a late Gothic sandstone entrance surround. In the west façade, the portal of the late Gothic chapel was reused as the surround of the new entrance portal. The church also contains wooden figures, including a Saint Anne Trinity and a figure of Saint Anthony the Abbot; both date from the 16th century.

Heijkersbroek: Nature West of Ell

Heijkersbroek is a 55-hectare nature area west of Ell along the Tungelroyse Beek and the Ellerheide. Its setting forms a scenic counterpoint to the town's architectural and ecclesiastical history.

Various grasshopper, dragonfly and butterfly species occur in Heijkersbroek. These include moerassprinkhaan, weidebeekjuffer and boomblauwtje. Plants include bruin cypergras, teer guichelheil, schildereprijs, kruipende moerasweegbree and dwergbloem. This makes the area particularly varied for nature observation.

Walking Between Weert and Ell

Stage 07 of the Pelgrimspad 2 leads from Weert to Ell. On the Weert–Ell stage, the Tungelroyse Beek meanders in places; beavers have been sighted there. The stream thus becomes a prominent landscape feature of this walking stage.

The Dorpswandeling Ell conveys the historic atmosphere of the Land van Thorn and follows the sequence of junctions 11–31–33–34–35–32–71–70–11. The sequence begins and ends at junction 11.

The Ellerschans as a Historical Trace

The present-day Ellerschans is a restored farmers' refuge redoubt. The original Ellerschans from the 17th century lies a few metres from the reconstruction. The reconstruction was created beside the original site to preserve the soil for future archaeologists.

In the past, the Ellerschans served as a refuge for farmers and their livestock when there was a threat of war. The Ellerschans is a simple defensive work, usually consisting of an earthen rampart and a ditch, intended to repel marauding bands of soldiers.

The reconstructed refuge redoubt north of Ell was used as a shelter in the 17th century and has been incorporated into the Bronshornpad, a walking route around the villages of the former municipality of Hunsel.

Discover More Places

Neer, Grathem, Ittervoort, Roggel, Buggenum, Kelpen-Oler, Baexem, Horn

For the higher-level travel overview: Leudal.