Discover Kevelaer: Pilgrimage, culture and relaxation

Kevelaer is shaped as a pilgrimage town by Kapellenplatz and its religious sites. At the same time, a museum, the Solegarten St. Jakob with its saltworks, and the water attractions at Irrland in Twisteden are among the diverse themes that can make a trip to Kevelaer special. If you are looking for hotels in Kevelaer, you can plan your trip around the places and experiences that interest you most: pilgrimage history, culture, relaxation or water-based attractions.

Pilgrimage sites at Kapellenplatz

Kapellenplatz is the religious centre of the pilgrimage town and a destination for pilgrims. The Gnadenkapelle (Chapel of Grace) on the square is a destination for pilgrims to Kevelaer and houses the miraculous image “Consolatrix Afflictorum”. The pilgrimage church, elevated to the status of a papal basilica in 1923, also stands on Kapellenplatz. The Kerzenkapelle (Candle Chapel) is the oldest church on the square. Together, these sites illustrate different aspects of Kevelaer’s religious heritage: Kapellenplatz as its centre, the Gnadenkapelle with its named miraculous image, and churches with their own historical significance.

Another place to explore the pilgrimage tradition is the Great Way of the Cross in Kevelaer. The Way of the Cross is 1.2 kilometres long, has 15 stations and was inaugurated in 1874. Its length, number of stations and year of inauguration provide specific details about the site without implying a walking time. St. Anthony’s Church is on the Way of St. James in Kevelaer. Kevelaer is also on the Way of St. James Route 3, which runs from the Lower Rhine through the Netherlands to Belgium. The Great Way of the Cross and this long-distance route thus offer different perspectives on pilgrimage.

Museum and visitor offerings

For those looking to focus on culture alongside the religious sites, the Niederrheinisches Museum Kevelaer e.V. offers a dedicated destination. The museum has more than 2,500 square metres of exhibition space and more than 20 permanent exhibition areas. These figures convey the scale of the exhibition and show that it covers more than a single area. The visitor programme also includes guided tours, talks and workshops. If you would like to include one of these events in your travel plans, check the dates in advance.

Saltworks and Solegarten

Solegarten St. Jakob offers relaxation, recreation and time to take a deep breath, especially around the saltworks. The structure is accessible to visitors, shell-shaped and 12 metres high, with a diameter of approximately 25 metres. The approximate figure for the diameter is part of the description of its dimensions. The saltworks’ shape and size give it a distinctive architectural profile, while the Solegarten is associated above all with recreation and a more tranquil atmosphere. Kevelaer therefore offers contrasting travel experiences: a town centre shaped by religion and a place dedicated to relaxation.

Water attractions in Twisteden

Irrland in Twisteden offers another thematic focus: more than 13 water attractions, including fountains, water battles and water slides. These examples cover different kinds of water-based fun, from fountains and water battles to slides. If these attractions are relevant to your stay, you can include them as a separate activity in your travel plans. The selection of attractions may change, so check which water activities are currently available before your visit.

Cycling in the wider Kleve destination

As an additional regional context, the wider destination of Kleve is relevant; the following information relates to the district of Kleve, not to individual places in Kevelaer. The district has more than 1,500 kilometres of cycle routes and numerous themed trails. These include the signposted, 128-kilometre Niers Cycle Route, which runs from the source of the Niers in Mönchengladbach through the districts of Viersen and Kleve to the municipality of Gennep in the Netherlands. A pocket guide shows all the junctions in the district of Kleve when unfolded and provides information about how the district-wide junction system works. Kleve thus represents a distinct regional cycling area alongside Kevelaer’s pilgrimage, culture and relaxation themes.

Discover more destinations: Appeldorn, Goch, Emmerich Am Rhein, Weeze, Straelen, Bedburg-Hau, Kleve, Uedem

Back to the main travel overview: Kleve.