Mary Roepaan

Maria Roepaan is a former monastery complex located east of Gennep, on the territory of the former municipality of Ottersum, which served as an orphanage and institution for mentally handicapped people.
In 1881, the Sisters of Divine Providence from Münster bought the house "Roepaan", which was renamed Maria Roepaan. Previously, they had a boarding school in the nearby German town of Kessel. These sisters had to make way for the Kulturkampf, which was taking place in Germany at that time. Roepaan was located less than two kilometers from the German border and initially German orphans came from this country to this house, who received education there, as well as Dutch children. Children of wealthier Germans also entered boarding schools. In this way, the institute, which was initially set up as a handicraft school, grew into a large complex. From 1897-1899 a large school house under a mansard roof was built to a design by the German architect Th. Jaspers. Further expansion took place from 1908-1909 to a design by Caspar Franssen. Then the associated farm was demolished. There was a neo-Gothic corner block, a school wing with a neo-Gothic chapel, with beautiful stained glass windows, and a sister's house. Sick sisters from Germany were also taken care of here.

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