In Hunsel, a long church history meets a landscape shaped by sandy soils and hedgerows. The Sint Jacobus de Meerdere church, small chapels and the Uffelse beek give the village its distinct character: you can admire historic buildings or get to know the landscape along a signposted walking route. This combination makes Hunsel a destination for anyone who wants to include heritage and nature in their trip.
Church history in several stages
The present single-nave Sint Jacobus de Meerdere church dates from 1839 and stands on the foundations of a medieval church. Its original Romanesque marlstone tower was built around 1300. The tower visible today was rebuilt in 1951 under the supervision of architect Joseph Franssen. The same building therefore brings together different historical layers: the medieval foundations, the tower dating from around 1300 and the 19th-century church.
The furnishings also preserve links to the past. The church’s inventory includes a 16th-century statue of Saint Roch, from the workshop of the Master of Elsloo. For many centuries, and still today, the church has been an important stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela. Since 2020, the Jacobustuin in front of it has been laid out with a scallop shell. A route is also marked out behind the church.
Chapels and local traditions
In addition to the church, old farmhouses and small chapels are part of Hunsel’s historic character. The Bruggerkapel is dedicated to Mary, or Our Lady of Lourdes. It was built of bricks in 1902 that had been left over from the construction of the bridge over the Uffelse beek. The chapel’s origins are thus linked to a specific local building project.
A different story is associated with the Ongerbrögkerkapel. According to local tradition, the original building was erected around 1815 in gratitude for the safe return of a soldier from Hunsel who had served in Napoleon’s army. The present Marian chapel was rebuilt in 2006. The dates tell of two distinct stages: the traditional account of the original building’s origins and the chapel’s reconstruction.
The Uffelse beek and Grenswaterwandeling 10
Higher-lying sandy soils and hedgerows shape the landscape around Hunsel. The Uffelse beek is 35 kilometres long; in Belgium it is called the Aabeek. The Grenswaterwandeling 10 offers a closer look at the stream and its banks: for long stretches, it follows a grass path, mostly right alongside the freely meandering Uffelse beek. Those interested in the walk will find it offers a different perspective on the landscape from the village’s architectural history.
The route also passes the Lancaster memorial, which stands on the bank of a pond. The historical context is the crash of a British Lancaster bomber, ME 858, on 20 July 1944; seven crew members lost their lives. The route links this place of remembrance with the stream bank, while keeping the memorial and the landscape distinct: the pond is where the memorial stands, and the stream shapes other long stretches of the walk.
One place, different interests
Your priorities can help you choose what to do: the church and chapels tell stories of architectural history and religious tradition, while the Grenswaterwandeling 10 highlights the stream and the surroundings shaped by hedgerows and sandy soils. Nearby, in Haler, is the Uffelsemolen, a 19th-century watermill. A chapel stands by the mill on the Uffelse beek. These nearby buildings add to the picture of the surrounding area, but should be distinguished from the sights within the village itself.
If you are looking for a holiday rental in Hunsel, you can weigh the village’s history and the walking route as different starting points for your stay. The buildings and landscape features described here give you a concrete impression of what makes Hunsel a distinctive destination.
Discover more destinations: Kelpen-Oler, Grathem, Ittervoort, Ell, Baexem, Horn, Neer, Buggenum
For the wider travel overview: Leudal.
