Rolduc - Medieval Churches on Waymarking.com

In 1104, a young priest by the name of Ailbertus of Antoing founded an Augustinian abbey in the Land of Rode, near the river Wurm. The abbey was called Kloosterrade, which later became 's-Hertogenrade (in French: Rode-le-Duc or Rolduc), after the ducal castle that was built across the Wurm. Ailbertus died in 1111 and his bones were later interred in the crypt. In 1136 the land of Rode, including the abbey, fell into the hands of the Duchy of Limburg. Kloosterrade was considered to be their family church. Several dukes of Limburg are buried at Rolduc, such as Walram III, whose cenotaph can be found in the nave of the church. During the 12th century and 13th century the abbey flourished. Several other communities were founded by Kloosterrade. In 1250 the abbey owned more than 3,000 hectares of land.

During the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries times were harder for the abbey in both spiritual and material terms. The buildings were heavily damaged during the Eighty Years War. Materialistically, the abbey began to prosper again in the late 17th century when revenue was generated from the exploitation of coal mines. In around 1775, Rolduc employed 350 mineworkers.

The abbey was dissolved by the French in 1796 and the buildings stood empty for 35 years. In 1815, when the Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed (see Vienna Congress), the border was drawn through the ancient land of Rode, separating the abbey from the castle. The eastern part (including the castle) became Prussian Herzogenrath and the western part (including the abbey) became part of the Dutch municipality of Kerkrade.

In the 19th century Rolduc became a famous boarding school run by Jesuits, and a seminary of the Diocese of Roermond. Many influential Dutch Roman Catholics (e.g. the writer Lodewijk van Deyssel and the social reformer Alphons Ariëns) were educated at Rolduc.

The former abbey is now a secondary school (Charlemagne College, formerly College Rolduc), a Roman Catholic seminary, the Rolduc Congress Center and a hotel.

The outside of the abby can be visited 24/7, the inside of the church is accessable through the entrance of the conference center/hotel on the left side of the church. I am not aware of the opening hours, but in general during office hours I don't think it is a problem. Also in general the crypt can be visited as well.

Building Materials: Stone

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Date Logged Log User Rating   03/28/2021 Axel-F visited it 09/29/2020 StefandD visited it 07/30/2019 CADS11 visited it 08/27/2016 Theodd1 visited it 05/29/2016 Vooruit! visited it 09/10/2014 Mr.Goodway visited it 08/02/2012 MoVeD visited it 10/27/2011 o2*Lo2 visited it 06/12/2011 SveSaPhilLa visited it

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