Kevelaer is best known for its pilgrimage sites: Kapellenplatz square is home to several churches, each with its own religious significance; the Way of the Cross and the Way of St. James add to this focus. Other attractions include the Niederrheinisches Museum Kevelaer e.V., the Solegarten St. Jakob with its graduation tower, and Irrland with its water attractions. This offers a range of themes to consider when planning your trip: sacred sites and routes, exhibitions, relaxation and water-based leisure activities. You can decide which aspect you would like to make the main focus of your trip. In the wider Kleve destination, an unfolded pocket planner shows all the junctions in the Kleve district and includes helpful information about how the district-wide junction system works.

Kapellenplatz and Pilgrimage Routes

Kapellenplatz is the religious centre of the pilgrimage town of Kevelaer. The Chapel of Grace there is a destination for pilgrims to Kevelaer and houses the image of grace “Consolatrix Afflictorum”. The pilgrimage church on Kapellenplatz was elevated to the status of a Papal Basilica in 1923; the Candle Chapel is the oldest church on the square. The image of grace, the elevation to basilica status and the Candle Chapel’s place as the oldest church can thus be seen as distinct aspects of Kevelaer’s pilgrimage tradition.

The Great Way of the Cross in Kevelaer is a 1.2-kilometre-long Way of the Cross with 15 stations, and was inaugurated in 1874. Its length, number of stations and year of inauguration provide concrete reference points for understanding the site’s scale, layout and historical context. St. Anthony’s Church is on the Way of St. James in Kevelaer. Kevelaer is also on the Way of St. James 3, which runs from the Lower Rhine through the Netherlands to Belgium. This allows you to distinguish between individual religious sites and the broader route of a pilgrimage way.

Museum and Graduation Tower

The Niederrheinisches Museum Kevelaer e.V. has more than 2,500 square metres of exhibition space and more than 20 permanent exhibition areas. The museum also offers guided tours, lectures and workshops. If you would like to plan your stay around a particular format, check the current programme and suitable dates in advance.

The Solegarten St. Jakob offers relaxation, recreation and time to unwind, especially around the graduation tower. The shell-shaped structure is accessible to visitors, 12 metres high and approximately 25 metres in diameter. Its shape, dimensions and accessibility describe the structure in a different way from the sacred sites and the museum. If you would like to include relaxation alongside culture, the Solegarten offers a distinct focus.

Water Attractions at Irrland

Irrland offers more than 13 water attractions, including fountains, water battles and water slides. This adds a leisure activity that differs thematically from churches, pilgrimage routes and exhibitions. The attractions available may change, so check the current selection before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Appeldorn, Rheurdt, Issum, Geldern, Wachtendonk, Kalkar, Straelen, Kranenburg.

Go to the wider travel overview: Kleve.