Our Monastery Trail: circular tour Tilburg

Of all the cities in North Brabant, Tilburg has the highest number of (former) monasteries.

(2 hour 30 minutes) 11.5 km

Starting point: from your location


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Of all the cities in North Brabant, Tilburg has the highest number of (former) monasteries. This monastery tour, which is 11.5 kilometres long, begins by the Trappists of Our Lady of Koningshoeven Abbey (Abdij Onze Lieve Vrouw van Koningshoeven) and takes you past Villa Moerenburg (Huize Moerenburg) and the Cenakel retreat house. When returning, be sure to stop at the Abbey’s tasting room.

North Brabant monastery life
While walking, become acquainted with the life and work of the Brabant monks and nuns – then and now. Our Kloosterpad or Monastery Path takes you past around fifty-five monasteries and abbeys in North Brabant in various stages. The total length of the trail is 330 kilometres, but there are also beautiful trails marked out around various monasteries. Check out all stage walks and tours here.

Make your walk a unique experience. …

Of all the cities in North Brabant, Tilburg has the highest number of (former) monasteries. This monastery tour, which is 11.5 kilometres long, begins by the Trappists of Our Lady of Koningshoeven Abbey (Abdij Onze Lieve Vrouw van Koningshoeven) and takes you past Villa Moerenburg (Huize Moerenburg) and the Cenakel retreat house. When returning, be sure to stop at the Abbey’s tasting room.

North Brabant monastery life
While walking, become acquainted with the life and work of the Brabant monks and nuns – then and now. Our Kloosterpad or Monastery Path takes you past around fifty-five monasteries and abbeys in North Brabant in various stages. The total length of the trail is 330 kilometres, but there are also beautiful trails marked out around various monasteries. Check out all stage walks and tours here.

Make your walk a unique experience. For example, visit an exhibition or go for a walk through the monastery garden. You can also order the special book published by Ons Kloosterpad or Our Monastery Path. For more information about Ons Kloosterpad, go to onskloosterpad.nl.

Finding the way with numbered junctions
This walking route has been set out using the numbered junction network in Brabant. Simply follow the route via the signposted junctions, from one number to the next. There are also signposts between the junctions to help you find your way. 

  • Signposting of the monastery tour

    Simply follow the signs and walk along the route from one numbered junction to the next.

    Simply follow the signs and walk along the route from one numbered junction to the next.

Sights on this route

All of the La Trappe beers have been created and are brewed here, together with the Trappists of Our Lady of Koningshoeven Abbey.

Starting point:

Eindhovenseweg 3
5056 RP Berkel-Enschot
Navigate to starting point
Koningshoeven Abbey
20
70
84
89

Villa Moerenburg, built around 1310, was one of the first stone houses in Tilburg. It was sold to the Tongerlo abbey at the end of the 14th century and served as a rectory.

Starting point:

Moerenburgseweg 1
5018 TC Tilburg
VILLA MOERENBURG
01
88
78

This monastery, built in 1935, was closed after many years. It has now been converted into apartments.

Starting point:

Pelgrimsweg 40
Tilburg
FORMER SAINT LIDWINA MONASTERY

This monastery, built in 1935, was closed after many years. It has now been converted into apartments.

Starting point:

Jan van Beverwijckstraat
Tilburg
FORMER SAINT ELISABETH MONASTERY AND HOSPITAL

In 1973, several Sisters of Oirschot settled in this residence at Gerard van Swietenstraat 81, applying themselves to education, social care and caring for elderly friars.

Starting point:

Gerard van Swietenstraat 81
Tilburg
CONVENT OF THE FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF OIRSCHOT
49
48

The Heikese church was the parish church of Tilburg. The neo-Gothic church had to be relinquished to the Protestants in 1648.

Starting point:

Stadhuisstraat 6
Tilburg
HEIKESE CHURCH

The Franciscan sisters moved from Nijmegen and Eupen to Tilburg in 1888. In 1896 they moved into their first convent at Bisschop Zwijsenstraat (nos. 18 and 20).

Starting point:

Zwijsenstraat 20
Tilburg
FORMER CONVENT OF THE FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF THE HOLY FAMILY

Fleeing the Kulturkampf in Germany, the sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary (Orde van O.L. Vrouw Visitatie) arrived in Tilburg.

Starting point:

Bisschop Zwijsenstraat
Tilburg
FORMER VISITANDINE CONVENT

The Sisters of Charity was one of the largest congregations of our country. The sisters resided in a weaving shop in ‘t Heike in 1832.

Starting point:

de Oude Dijk
Tilburg
MOTHER HOUSE OF THE SISTERS OF CHARITY
47
46
45

This church, designed by Jan van der Valk, was completed in 1913. The architectural style is an early form of expressionism for the Netherlands.

Starting point:

Broekhovenseweg 2
Tilburg
OUR MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL CHURCH

At the request of the pastor, the first three Daughters travelled from France to Waalwijk to care for the sick and provide early childhood education (and, later, primary education) in 1911.

Starting point:

Vendeliersstraat
Tilburg
FORMER DAUGHTERS OF OUR LADY OF THE SACRED HEART CONVENT
43

In 1954, the Brothers of Tilburg built a new monastery between the church and the Saint Joseph House at Kruisvaardersstraat 32.

Starting point:

Kruisvaardersstraat 32
Tilburg
BROTHERHOUSE DIONYSIUS

The Daughters of the Holy Heart of Mary moved into this house (architect Jos Bedaux) in July 1951. They worked in education, cared for the elderly and ill, carried out youth work and district nursing.

Starting point:

Fatimastraat 40
5021 BE Tilburg
FATIMA JOZEFZORG HOUSE
42

This retreat house was taken into use in August 1908 by the originally French Congregation of our Lady of Seclusion in the Cenakel.

Starting point:

Cenakel 1
Tilburg
CENAKEL
64

In May 1950, the Brothers with the Blue Cords (officially the Brothers of our Lady of Sorrows, Catholic Social Doctrine) began an open house for youth who were working and studying, naming it the Eigenhorst Boys’ House (Jongenshuis Eigenhorst).

Starting point:

Koningshoeven 66
Tilburg
FORMER CONVENT EIGENHORST
70
20

All of the La Trappe beers have been created and are brewed here, together with the Trappists of Our Lady of Koningshoeven Abbey.

Starting point:

Eindhovenseweg 3
5056 RP Berkel-Enschot
Navigate to endpoint
Koningshoeven Abbey
  • 20
  • 70
  • 84
  • 89
  • 01
  • 88
  • 78
  • 49
  • 48
  • 47
  • 46
  • 45
  • 43
  • 42
  • 64
  • 70
  • 20
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