Sint-Jan-de-Doperkerk

Het Kliniekske was originally a boarding house. In 1922 the directors of the mine turned it into a hospital known as Sint-Elisabethkliniek, where injured miners could count on fast and reliable treatment. In 1970 the local authorities purchased the building from NV Cockerill. Today Het Kliniekske is a vibrant community centre where socio-cultural organizations rent an office and/or a club room. So if you would like to join a wine guild, a Turkish association or some other club, you have some twenty to choose from!

Experience 600 years of history highlighting the presence of women at Herkenrode.

The Experience Centre focuses on the abbey's story, with a chronological journey through the fascinating 600-years history of Herkenrode, highlighting the presence of the women, and the periods of prosperity and decline. Their story comes to life thanks to the audio guide "In the Abbess's own words". Immerse yourself in the magnificent past of this women's abbey. Experience and explore their lives!

This church is not located in the mining estate; it's in the centre of Beringen. It is a typical cruciform church in Late Gothic style and it dates from the first half of the 15th century. It defined Beringen's skyline long before the mining industry arrived in town.
After the bell tower collapsed on the adjacent school building in 1839, the church was restored and received a spire, which gave the centre of Beringen a unique accent. The church has a lavish and valuable interior, including a Baroque altar, a communion bench and a pulpit from the 17th century. It's a beautiful church, definitely worth a visit!

Price: Entrance is free
Guide fees: € 60
Duration: 1.5 hours. Wheelchair accessible.

Academy Hall - Architectural gem

Behind the Abbey Tower you find the entrance of the Academy Hall. The 19th Century Hall was designed by Louis Roelandt. The octagonal auditorium with dome has amazing acoustic qualities and is now the home for many exclusive concerts and literary happenings. It also has an amazing interior with beautiful stucco.

Open from April 1 till October 31, only during the weekends from 02:00 PM till 05:00 PM. Closed from November 1 till March 31.

Abbot Quarters

Enter the gate in the Diesterstraat and cross the courtyard. On your left are the 18th Century Abbot Quarters. The Emperor’s Hall was the Abbot’s reception room. The ceiling paintings are by the Italian master G.A. Caldelli and refer to abbot Jozef van Herck. The communal archives are now situated on the first floor.

Open from April 1 till October 31, only during the weekends from 02:00 PM till 05:00 PM. Closed from November 1 till March 31.

The Kolenspoor (Coal Track) connects the coal washing plant with the coal harbour. In the past the coal was transported across the city to the canal. In addition to the railway, there is also a cycle path and walking route. Learn about the history of transport and the people who lived next to the railway – well worth a visit. Viewpoints, resting places and information boards will put you on the right track.

The main building on the Groenplaats is the baroque Sint-Pieterskerk. In 1704, Count Ferdinand d’Aspremont-Lynden of Reckheim signed an agreement with the Bishop of Liège, stating that he was allowed to demolish the parish church on the castle estate, provided that he would build a new one elsewhere.

A number of farms on the Groenplaats were expropriated to free up space for the construction of a new church. Work commenced that same year. However, the count did not keep his promise. As soon as the choir and part of the nave were ready, he stopped the works due to lack of money. The actual reason was an old feud between the clergy and the count family.

The church remained unfinished until 1722, the year in which pastor Maghin was appointed pastor van Rekem. The latter was very pleased that Countess Antonia, a sister of Count Ferdinand, was prepared to intervene financially, so that the construction work could be resumed. Unfortunately, the church was not spared from disaster afterwards. In 1755 a fire broke out in the small town of Reckheim and together with 21 houses the church partially burned down. After the difficult start of 1704, the church now remained as a ruin until it was put back into use in 1774.

Because the church became too small years later due to the increasing number of parishioners from Rekem and Visé, a larger church was built in 1956 in the Kleinveld. After being the center of Rekem's parochial life for two centuries, the old parish church was taken over by the city council in the same year to be converted into a museum.

Under the motto "church becomes church again", the interior was restored to its original form and after a thorough restoration in 2015, it can now be admired in all its glory.