Eckelrade lies on the edge of the Savelsbos and is surrounded by fields and orchards. In addition to its landscape, the village has several local historical landmarks: a church on a hill in the centre, a chapel on the edge of the village, old farmhouses and the history of former institutions. From Eckelrade, you can hike into the Savelsbos. This means two distinct priorities are available when choosing a destination: nature and village history.

Savelsbos and landscape

The Savelsbos is designated as a Natura 2000 site. Its location on the edge of Eckelrade and the opportunity to hike into the forest from the village make the forest a concrete part of your travel planning. Fields and orchards also shape the surrounding area and provide another landscape setting alongside the forest. If you include Eckelrade in your selection, you can therefore decide whether you want to come here primarily to hike in the Savelsbos or to experience the local landscape. These are two different perspectives on the village: one focuses on the forest, the other on the surroundings shaped by fields and orchards.

The Mergelland Fietsroute West also passes through Eckelrade. This gives you two distinct points of reference for planning: hiking from Eckelrade into the Savelsbos and a named route that runs through the village.

Church, chapel and village history

The Sint-Bartholomeuskerk stands on a small hill in the centre of Eckelrade. Its central location differs markedly from that of the Antoniuskapel, which is on the edge of the village, at the Klompenstraat-Linderweg intersection. The chapel is a grotto chapel dating from 1946 and was restored in 2019. These two named buildings are therefore located in different parts of the village: the church represents the village centre, while the chapel represents its outskirts.

Other features of Eckelrade include old farmhouses. A “mei-den”, or maypole, stands in a nearby square. Together with the church and chapel, these local features give an impression of how different buildings and village landmarks shape the place.

Eckelrade’s history also includes the former convent and school of the Soeurs de la Miséricorde. Both were founded in Eckelrade in 1903 and remained active there until 1991. These dates add an institutional historical dimension to the visible buildings. The village can therefore be understood through both its individual buildings and the former history of the convent and school.

Understanding Eckelrade as a destination

When deciding where to travel, you can weigh the landscape and village-related features separately. The Savelsbos and the hike from Eckelrade into the forest speak to the nature side of your plans; the church, chapel, farmhouses and history of the convent and school form the focus of the village’s history. The Mergelland Fietsroute West is another concrete point of interest that passes through Eckelrade. Which of these aspects matters most to you depends on what you are looking for on your trip.

If you are considering Eckelrade as a possible place to stay, this distinction can help clarify the purpose of your trip: should the forest or the village’s history count more, or would you like to consider both? Once you have decided on your priorities, you can search for hotels in Eckelrade and compare the options based on your own travel plans.

Discover more destinations: Gronsveld, Eijsden, Mesch, Bemelen, Noorbeek, Margraten

Return to the regional travel overview: Eijsden-Margraten.