Two-country tour past monasteries and a castle

Your route starts at Kloostertuin Wittem. Get off at Wittem Castle. In terms of area, the town of the same name in which the castle is located was once the largest municipality in the Netherlands. The castle, whose history dates back to at least 1220, consisted of a large round residential tower. The castle was strong and distinguished enough to welcome Emperor Charles V in 1520. At Orsbach you just cross the border. Further on you will pass the Sint Benedictusberg Abbey. This Benedictine abbey was founded to replace an abbey in Merkelbeek. In that abbey, German monks found a safe haven in the ^19th century due to the restrictive measures against monasteries during the 'Kulturkampf' in Germany. You drive back via the Onderste Molen in Mechelen, a beautiful watermill from 1215.