Nederland - Roermond, Munsterkerk

The Munsterkerk (officially Onze Lieve Vrouwe Munsterkerk) (Munster Church of our Blessed Mother Mary) is located in the heart of Roermond and is considered being one of the most beautiful remaining examples of architecture in late Romanesque style in the Netherlands.

Munsterkerk was built during the period from 1220 to 1265 as an abbey church and place of burial for its founders. For almost six centuries - until 1798 - it served as a monastery church. In the 19th century military barracks were housed in the abbey and the church became part of the barracks. The church is the only remaining part of the abbey, the rest of which was demolished in 1924.

Having been an abbey church for the Cistercian order of nuns in Roermond for almost six centuries its interior is not as sumptuous as in many aother catholic churches. It also served as the sepulchral church for count Gerard III van Gelre and his wife countess Margaretha van Brabant. Their tomb still has pride of place in the Munsterkerk.

The church has been mostly spared by calamites and has therefore retained much of its original character. The most far reaching restoration took place at the end of the 19th century under the supervision of the famous Dutch architect P. Cuypers. In 1992 Munsterkerk was struck by an earthquake, after which the eastern towers had to be rebuilt.

The Munsterkerk is a Dutch National Monument and is one of the top 100 Dutch heritage sites.