Discover Macharen: Church, Odrada and Walking Route

Get to know Macharen through several distinct features: the Neo-Gothic Sint Petrus' Bandenkerk, memories of Saint Odrada, the history of the Macharense eendenkooi and the “Rondje Macharen” walking route. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, you can choose what to focus on based on your interests: church architecture and religious traditions sit alongside a walking route and a history dating back to the 17th century. These different highlights can help you decide before booking whether church architecture, Odrada traditions or the walking route will be the deciding factor for your trip.

Neo-Gothic church and Late Gothic tower

The Sint Petrus' Bandenkerk in Macharen is a soaring Neo-Gothic pseudo-basilica with plastered wooden vaults. It was built onto the Late Gothic tower of the old parish church. The term “pseudo-basilica” classifies the building’s form, while “Neo-Gothic” describes the church’s style; “Late Gothic” describes the tower. For architecture enthusiasts, the classification of the church building and its structural connection to the old parish church are therefore two aspects to consider.

Odrada Chapel and the history of the relic

Odrada Chapel has stood on Hoefstraat in Macharen since 1850. The chapel contains a plaster image of Saint Odrada with a kneeling horse. While the year 1850 places the chapel at a specific location and point in time, the image is a distinctive feature of its interior.

Macharen is also home to a relic of Saint Odrada, kept in an oval silver pyx. The vessel dates from 1691 and measures 6 × 5 cm; it is also called an osculatorium. Pyx and osculatorium are two names for the same vessel. Its measurements give a sense of its small size, complementing the information about its material and age with a more tangible idea of the object.

Processions and the Macharense eendenkooi

Around 1700, the annual Odrada Procession took place in Macharen. The Holy Trinity Procession passed through Macharen through 1972 inclusive. The two dates provide different points of reference: an annual procession around 1700, and a procession through the village that ended in 1972.

The history of the Macharense eendenkooi began in 1670. It also offers visitors stories and behind-the-scenes insights. Here, a specific historical starting point meets a visitor-focused perspective—another way to explore the history of the village, distinct from its buildings and processions.

Walking route and landscape

An old branch of the Maas forms Macharen’s northern boundary. The “Rondje Macharen” walking route starts at a car park on Eusselingstraat, 5367 AS Macharen, and follows part of the Hertogswetering. The two waterways play different roles: the Maas branch marks the village boundary, while the Hertogswetering forms part of the walking route.

When planning your trip, you can use the stated starting point and the section along the Hertogswetering as separate landmarks.

Discover more destinations: Maren-Kessel, Ravenstein, Herpen, Berghem, Oss

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