Top 15 Activities and Attractions in Sint-Truiden, Belgium

This city in Belgian Limburg developed around a Benedictine abbey established by the pious 7th-century Frankish noble Saint Trudo.

The abbey served as a significant pilgrimage destination during Medieval times, contributing to the city’s affluence and solidifying its status as one of the most influential monasteries in the Low Countries.

Sint-Truiden Abbey faced suppression and significant destruction at the conclusion of the 18th century.

One enduring structure is the abbey church’s grand Romanesque tower, part of a trio of historical towers that encircle Sint-Truiden’s market square, complemented by a UNESCO-recognized belfry.

The city lies at the heart of Limburg’s Haspengouw, an idyllic region noted for its gently rolling hills and abundant orchards.

1. Grote Markt

Sint-Truiden’s expansive market square is frequently described as the second-largest in Belgium, following Sint-Niklaas.

However, following an investigation by the long-standing TV program Vlaanderen Vakantieland (Flanders Holiday Country), it was identified as the fifth largest in Belgium.

Regardless, Grote Markt is vast by any standards and is further accentuated by three prominent towers located at the northeast end.

In line with many Flemish squares in the 2010s, Sint-Truiden’s Grote Markt has been redesigned with smooth paving, enhancing accessibility for pedestrians, strollers, wheelchair users, and cyclists.

Additionally, akin to the best squares in Belgium, numerous brasseries, cafés, and bars line the southeast and northwest edges, featuring delightful terraces.

2. Stadhuis

One of the three towers adorning Grote Markt originates from the city hall and belongs to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which includes 56 belfries across Belgium and Northern France.

This tower, featuring Baroque alterations, forms part of the 13th-century cloth hall, which was later annexed by the city hall.

The lower structure traces back to the 13th century, while the upper components were established in 1608. Behind an elegant late-Baroque façade dating from the 18th century, the ground floor halls are actually 14th-century, while the first-floor chambers showcase exquisite 18th-century stuccowork and allegorical paintings.

The council chamber/wedding room is particularly noteworthy, adorned with oil paintings by Southern Netherlandish artist Jean-Baptiste Coclers (1696-1772).

3. Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk

The Gothic and neo-Gothic church situated across from Stadhuis Grote Markt has been in existence since the 1300s; however, it is the third church to occupy this location.

The entire western façade and the crowning tower are relatively recent, having been constructed in the mid-19th century after the previous tower fell in 1668. Inside, visitors will encounter remarkable polychrome sculptures from the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, as well as exquisite Rococo furniture, including confessionals and a pulpit dating from the 18th century.

Moreover, the treasury, housed in the crypt and accessible through the sacristy, contains many important items from the former Sint-Truiden Abbey, including the reliquaries of Saint Trudo and Saint Eucherius (d. 743), gilded busts for relics, images of silver apostles, and various liturgical artifacts ranging from silver-gilt monstrances to paraments.

4. Sint-Agnesbegijnhof

This preserved former community for beguines, religious women living independently, is part of a region-wide UNESCO World Heritage Site dedicated to the conservation of historic Flemish beguinages.

The Sint-Agnesbegijnhof is located within walking distance to the northeast of the city center, on land allocated to Sint-Truiden’s dispersed beguines in the mid-13th century by Abbot Willem van Rijkel.

During its peak, this beguinage accommodated 200 beguines, with pastors appointed by the Abbots of Sint-Truiden. The last beguine passed away in 1860. True to traditional design, the Sint-Agnesbegijnhof features terraces of houses around a central courtyard, mainly dating from the 17th and 18th centuries and centered on a church.

This church underwent gradual construction from the 13th to the 16th century and is a must-visit for its richly adorned interiors.

Highlights include a Baroque organ (1644-46), a pulpit (1672), and various altars (18th century), complemented by 38 excellently preserved murals painted between the early-1300s and 1600. These murals depict apostles, episodes from the lives of saints, and scenes from the Bible.

5. Abbey Tower (Abdijtoren)

By the 11th century, the abbey founded by Saint Trudo had attracted so many pilgrims and had become a lucrative source of wealth for the town that a magnificent new Romanesque church was constructed.

Built during the latter half of the 11th century, its dimensions were astounding for the time, measuring 100 meters long and 26 meters wide.

This church was demolished in 1798 shortly after the abbey was suppressed; however, the western tower remains, revealing the church’s substantial scale.

The tower has been equipped with modern metal steps and platforms for a panoramic view of Sint-Truiden and the Haspengouw countryside.

In total, there are 196 steps and five platforms where visitors can take a short break en route to the summit.

6. Abbey Crypt (Ondergronde Crypte)

Behind the tower, in the grassy area where the church’s nave and choir once stood, visitors can descend into the subterranean chapel built in the 11th century.

While retaining the original stonework, the space has been recently enhanced with a film exploring the origins of the city and the abbey, as well as new findings of architectural elements like column capitals.

At the rear, an 18th-century vaulted corridor features burial openings.

Moreover, upon returning to the surface, one can observe the 13th-century effigy of Renier van Rijkel, the elder brother of Abbot Willem van Rijkel mentioned earlier.

7. Academiezaal (de Bogaard)

In the mid-19th century, the esteemed architect Louis Roelandt was tasked with designing a seminary on the site of the abbey.

Unfortunately, the Neoclassical seminary church was lost to a fire in 1975; however, several buildings from the complex survived, including this distinctive auditorium.

The Academiezaal features tiered wooden seating on an octagonal plan, beneath a dome adorned with delicate stucco moldings.

Renowned for its exceptional acoustics, the Academiezaal continues to host classical concerts and lectures.

From early April to the end of October, visitors can explore the auditorium on Sunday afternoons.

A remnant from the abbey, the 18th-century Keizerzaal (Emperor’s Hall), served as the abbot’s reception area.

This room features a dramatic ceiling fresco by Italian master G.A. Caldelli, commemorating Abbot Joseph van Herck (1751-80). The Keizerzaal is accessible on weekend afternoons during the summer.

8. Minderbroederskerk

The Franciscan order first established a presence in Sint-Truiden around 1226, and the Early Gothic church erected in the 13th century was later replaced with a Baroque structure in the 1730s.

The accompanying monastery was dissolved in 1797, yet the order managed to acquire much of the sold inventory, leading to the monastery’s eventual revival, which lasted until as recently as 2018. Constructed from brick and embellished with intricate white stone details, the church facade makes a significant impression, rising to a height of 74 meters.

Inside, notable artworks include a Pietà from 1600, a polychrome statue of St. Anthony from 1699, and a polychrome representation of Mary dating back to 1480. Many impressive Baroque features such as the oak pulpit and six confessionals, all displaying superior craftsmanship from the 1700s, can also be admired.

Take a moment outside to enjoy the tranquility of the monastery garden.

Furthermore, one of the monastery’s wings houses the Museum de Mindere (Franciscan Museum), which chronicles the extensive history of the Franciscan order and showcases an array of paintings, sculptures, vestments, and liturgical artifacts.

9. Brouwerij Kerkom

The village of Kerkom-bij-Sint-Truiden, located to the south of the city, is home to a brewery that has been operational since 1878, set within a charming farmyard.

Brouwerij Kerkom produces a diverse range under the Bink beer brand, including a dubbel, two tripels, a blond, bruin, amber, an IPA, and two dark winter beers, among others.

Situated in the countryside, just a short ride from the city center, Brouwerij Kerkom is a recommended destination for beer enthusiasts traveling by bike, especially now that a car-free cycle path runs alongside the N80. Visitors can enjoy a beer in the courtyard during the summer or warm up by the fireside in winter.

Brewery tours are held every Saturday at 15:00 from March to October.

10. Trudomonumentenwandeling

Sint-Truiden is home to nearly 250 monuments, thus to fully appreciate the city’s heritage, it is advisable to obtain a pamphlet from the tourist office.

If one aims to encompass all of Sint-Truiden’s highlights within a single tour, the Trudomonumentenwandeling is the ideal solution.

This tour includes a map/pamphlet, available for a nominal fee.

Additionally, visitors will find it easy to navigate, thanks to the circular metal rivets embedded in the pavement at the major attractions.

11. Sint-Pieterskerk

If visitors remain intrigued by religious heritage in Sint-Truiden, there is much to discover in both the city center and its surroundings.

A good starting point is the Romanesque Sint-Pieterskerk, constructed between 1180 and 1190 outside the city walls in the southern district of Sint-Pieter.

In those times, this location would have been set among the vineyards of the Abbey of Sint-Truiden, traditionally believed to be Saint Trudo’s childhood home.

One striking feature of the exterior, particularly on the small gallery above the apse, is the contrast between the light tuff and the dark ironstone, a characteristic of Rhenish Romanesque architecture.

This motif continues on the nave’s piers and arches, displaying alternating bands of the two materials.

A highlight inside is the baptismal font from the 1200s, along with a polychrome image of the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne carved in the 15th century, as well as a collection of Medieval marble and limestone ledger stones.

12. Sint-Gangulfuskerk

The oldest church in Sint-Truiden was established between 1055 and 1082 under the direction of Abbot Adelardus II.

During Medieval times, the abbots of Sint-Truiden had the authority to appoint the parsons of this church.

The choir and apse date from the 12th century, while alterations to the transepts and side aisles occurred in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, with the nave’s round arches tracing back to the 11th century.

Inside, one can admire significant fittings, including a polychrome triumphal cross, an oak crucifix, and a carving of the Virgin and Child with Saint Anne, all Gothic works from the 15th and 16th centuries.

Among the notable later Baroque details are a 17th-century confessional, an 18th-century side altar, and a series of images of saints from this period, featuring Trudo, Gangulphus, and others.

13. Sint-Genovevakerk

Lastly, the Sint-Genovevakerk deserves attention as it remains intriguing by any standard.

Located in Zepperen, just ten minutes east of Sint-Truiden’s city center, it is enthralling to note that a place of worship has existed here since as early as 650.

The current structure is primarily built of brick, presented in the Demer Gothic style from the 15th and 16th centuries; however, the Romanesque stone tower is significantly older, dating back to the 1100s.

Inside, there is a wealth of art to explore, but the most significant includes a series of late Gothic murals depicting the life of St Genoveva, the Last Judgment, and a representation of St Christopher.

These artworks were created around 1509 but were subsequently plastered over, only to be rediscovered in 1898. Additionally, visitors will find the high altar, side panels painted at the beginning of the 16th century, and a polychrome Pietà from approximately the same period.

14. Huis Nagels

This luxurious eclectic townhouse was constructed in 1892 for Sint-Truiden notary L. Nagels and his spouse Maria De Bruyn.

Huis Nagels is situated on Stationsstraat, which serves as a 19th-century thoroughfare linking the historic city center to the new railway station.

The significance of Huis Nagels lies in the high-quality materials utilized in its construction, as well as the exceptional craftsmanship evident in features such as the imposing staircase with its hand-forged railing.

Currently, Huis Nagels houses the interior design firm Emporium Interieur, which has meticulously restored the property using period-appropriate paint, wallpaper, carpets, and decorative arts.

In 2015, the venue served as a filming location for the TV drama Chaussée d’Amour, and guided tours are available for interested visitors.

15. Toerisme Sint-Truiden

Almost functioning as an attraction in its own right, the city’s tourist information center relocated to the historic vaults of the city hall in 2011. It provides a space to relax while planning your next activities, offering brochures and maps for local attractions, walking paths, and cycling routes.

Moreover, touch-screen terminals grant access to the city’s website and trip planner.

Like many tourist information centers, it also features local specialty foods from the Haspengouw region, including beers from nearby breweries, regional wines, fruit liqueurs, and fruitstroop, a type of jelly or spread made from apples or pears.