Monastery of Hoogcruts

Hoogcruts 9, Hoogcruts (Noorbeek): Monastery of Hoogcruts

The monastery at Hoogcruts was built in 1496 near a chapel, which is first mentioned in 1426. In 1579 this monastery was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt in 1603. The current U-shaped monastery complex dates from the period 1729-1741. In 1785 a chapel was added to the south wing. In 1798, during the occupation by the French, this monastery, like so many others at that time, was dissolved and converted into a country house. The chapel became a barn. In 1870 another fire broke out. The damage to the manor house was repaired in 1873, to the chapel in 1879. In 1904 the Dominican Sisters had just moved in. In the first half of the 20th century, the monastery was inhabited by Franciscans. On September 6, 1975 - the Franciscans had left in the meantime - the building was hit by fire again and because there was a suspicion of arson by the then owner, the insurance paid out little or no damage. The part of the building with fire damage fell further into disrepair from year to year and was in ruins. There were plans to completely refurbish the building and house a luxurious hotel, but that did not happen. In 2011, the Hoog Cruts ruin was acquired by the Limburg Landscape Foundation, which will stabilize the ruin and preserve it for posterity.

Eijsden-Margraten