Sint-Walrickskapel, Medieval chapel ruins in Overasselt, Netherlands
Sint-Walrickskapel is the remains of a 15th-century chapel with an eastern wall featuring round-arched windows and partial side walls that are still visible today. The ruins are located within the Overasseltse Vennen nature reserve in the municipality of Heumen.
Built in the 15th century, the chapel served monks from the French abbey of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme who established and maintained a priory in this region. Over the centuries the structure gradually fell into ruin, leaving only the stone walls visible today.
The chapel is named after Saint Walrick and once served monks who lived and worked in this region. Visitors today continue a tradition of tying cloth strips to an oak tree near the ruins as a way to express personal wishes.
The chapel ruins are freely accessible year-round since they sit in an open area without barriers or fencing. Good walking shoes are recommended because access passes through the natural area and the ground can be wet or uneven depending on the season.
In 1953 a statue of the Virgin Mary with Child was placed near the ruins, created by sculptor Peter Roovers with a base made of stones from the French pilgrimage site of Lourdes. This religious figure links the medieval history of the place to a form of modern devotion.
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