Grand tour around Handel

From here you depart in a northerly direction to the outskirts of Berkhoek and Huize Padua. Huize Padua is a hamlet named after the psychiatric institution of the same name. The history of Huize Padua goes back to the end of the 17th century, when a hermit settled in Handel. You walk around Huize Padua.

Pilgrimage type Trade
Handel is known for being a place of pilgrimage. One of the most famous and largest pilgrimages to Handel is the Handelse Processie. This procession is done by a thousand pilgrims on foot every year from Valkenswaard. Handel is the oldest place of pilgrimage to Mary in North Brabant. Behind the church is a procession park, in which the'miraculous well\\\' is located. The water from this well is said to have a healing effect. Another legend tells that the statue of Mary that stands in the church was found in a tree. This so-called'Mary tree\\\' was struck by lightning and split open. The statue of Mary was found in the middle of the tree.

Through nature
Between Handel and Boekel (north of Handel) lies the cover sand ridge that marks the border with the Peel. The sand ridge is forested and forms a beautiful contrast with the elongated ditches and sand roads of the Peelontginningen. You can hardly imagine it now, but until a century and a half ago the Peel was a wild, impenetrable area. Now it is a wonderful walking and cycling area.