Ell focuses on architectural and local history, complemented by nature attractions to the west of the village. The Sint-Antonius-Abt Church reflects several phases of construction; the Ellerschans points to its role as a rural refuge, while Heijkersbroek offers a different perspective. For your trip planning, there are specific cultural and landscape attractions to choose from.

Church and local history

The Sint-Antonius-Abt Church is a Rijksmonument (national heritage site); its monument number is 22866. In 1912, the present Neo-Romanesque church replaced the previous building, based on a design by architect Caspar Franssen. The tower was blown up in 1944, after which the church was restored following the war. In 1953, the tower was rebuilt under the direction of Jasper Franssen, and the church was extended to the west.

On the west façade, the reused portal of a Late Gothic chapel serves as the sandstone surround for the new entrance portal. Inside, the church preserves wooden figures, including a Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child (Sint-Anna-te-drieën) and a figure of Saint Anthony the Abbot; both date from the 16th century. The Neo-Romanesque building and older details from different periods thus stand side by side.

These different periods give the church a layered architectural history: the 1912 design, the Late Gothic portal and the 16th-century wooden figures belong to different eras. The tower’s destruction in 1944 and its reconstruction in 1953 mark further milestones. These connections help place the building’s features in their historical context, rather than viewing them as a single phase of construction.

Ell was established in the Late Middle Ages and historically belonged to the Prince-Abbey of Thorn. A Late Gothic chapel was founded and built in the village in 1492. In 1808, Ell became an independent parish; its patron saint is Saint Anthony the Abbot. The dates refer to different milestones: 1492 marks the chapel’s foundation, while 1808 marks the parish’s establishment.

The Ellerschans

The present-day Ellerschans is a restored rural refuge fort. Its original 17th-century site lies a few metres from the reconstruction built alongside it to protect the ground for future archaeologists. The reconstructed structure and the historic site are therefore two separate points of reference.

In the past, the Ellerschans provided refuge for farmers and their livestock when the threat of war loomed. It is a simple defensive structure, usually consisting of an earth rampart and a ditch, designed to repel marauding bands of soldiers. The combination of its protective purpose and defensive design provides the reconstructed fort with its historical context.

Nature and routes

Heijkersbroek is a 55-hectare nature area west of Ell, on the Tungelroyse Beek and Ellerheide. A municipal visitor notice dated 6 August 2026 lists various species of grasshoppers, dragonflies and butterflies found there, including moerassprinkhaan, weidebeekjuffer and boomblauwtje. The notice lists bruin cypergras, teer guichelheil, schildereprijs, kruipende moerasweegbree and dwergbloem as notable plants.

Stage 07 of the Pelgrimspad 2 runs from Weert to Ell. Along this section, the Tungelroyse Beek meanders in places, and beavers have been spotted there. The Dorpswandeling Ell conveys the historic atmosphere of the Land van Thorn and follows the junction sequence 11–31–33–34–35–32–71–70–11. The two route descriptions differ in their orientation: the stage runs from Weert to Ell, while the Dorpswandeling sequence starts and ends at junction 11. As junction information may be updated, check the sequence before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Neeritter, Grathem, Haelen, Heythuysen, Neer, Kelpen-Oler, Baexem, Ittervoort.

For the wider travel overview: Leudal.