St. Odiliënberg
Encyclopedia
Sint Odiliënberg is a small village in central Limburg
, in the Netherlands
, east of the river Maas in the Roer valley. It is one of the six villages in the municipality of Roerdalen
.
Standing on a hill is a Romanesque
basilica
with two towers dating from the eleventh century. Next to the basilica is a 10th century chapel, originally the parish church.
Until 1991, Sint Odiliënberg was a separate municipality. Since then it has been part of Ambt Montfort
which in January 2007 formed a new municipality together with Roerdalen
under the name of Roerdalen
.
, lying along the small Roer river. Romans
settled here very early. In AD
706, Saint Wiro, Saint Plechelmus, and Saint Otgerus built an abbey, which was important in the christianisation of the Netherlands. In the time of the Viking
invasions the Utrecht
clergy found shelter here. At first it was a secular chapter
, which was moved to Roermond in the 14th century. On the hill the Sepulchrine Order
settled in the 14th century. After the Eighty Years' War this area became Spanish
; it was ceded to the Dutch Republic
in 1715. Until the French municipal reorganisation St. Odiliënberg belonged to the administrive division known as Ambt Montfort, but it became a separate commune/municipality c. 1810, until it remerged in Ambt Montfort
and later Roerdalen
.
Limburg (Netherlands)
Limburg is the southernmost of the twelve provinces of the Netherlands. It is located in the southeastern part of the country and bordered by the province of Gelderland to the north, Germany to the east, Belgium to the south and part of the west, andthe Dutch province of North Brabant partly to...
, in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, east of the river Maas in the Roer valley. It is one of the six villages in the municipality of Roerdalen
Roerdalen
- Population centres :*Herkenbosch*Melick*Montfort*Posterholt*Reutje*Sint Odiliënberg*Vlodrop- External links :*...
.
Standing on a hill is a Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
with two towers dating from the eleventh century. Next to the basilica is a 10th century chapel, originally the parish church.
Until 1991, Sint Odiliënberg was a separate municipality. Since then it has been part of Ambt Montfort
Ambt Montfort
Ambt Montfort is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Limburg.In 1991, the municipalities of Montfort, Posterholt, Reutje and Sint Odiliënberg merged. The original name of the merged municipality was "Posterholt", but it was changed in "Ambt Montfort" in 1994. On January 1, 2007, Ambt...
which in January 2007 formed a new municipality together with Roerdalen
Roerdalen
- Population centres :*Herkenbosch*Melick*Montfort*Posterholt*Reutje*Sint Odiliënberg*Vlodrop- External links :*...
under the name of Roerdalen
Roerdalen
- Population centres :*Herkenbosch*Melick*Montfort*Posterholt*Reutje*Sint Odiliënberg*Vlodrop- External links :*...
.
History
Sint Odiliënberg is a few kilometres south of RoermondRoermond
Roermond is a city, a municipality, and a diocese in the southeastern part of the Netherlands.The city of Roermond is a historically important town, on the lower Roer at the east bank of the Meuse river. It received city rights in 1231...
, lying along the small Roer river. Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
settled here very early. In AD
Anno Domini
and Before Christ are designations used to label or number years used with the Julian and Gregorian calendars....
706, Saint Wiro, Saint Plechelmus, and Saint Otgerus built an abbey, which was important in the christianisation of the Netherlands. In the time of the Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
invasions the Utrecht
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Utrecht
The Archdiocese of Utrecht is an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands. The archdiocese is the metropolitan for 6 suffragans, the dioceses of Breda, Groningen-Leeuwarden, Haarlem-Amsterdam, Roermond, Rotterdam, and 's-Hertogenbosch....
clergy found shelter here. At first it was a secular chapter
Chapter (religion)
Chapter designates certain corporate ecclesiastical bodies in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Nordic Lutheran churches....
, which was moved to Roermond in the 14th century. On the hill the Sepulchrine Order
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
settled in the 14th century. After the Eighty Years' War this area became Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
; it was ceded to the Dutch Republic
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
in 1715. Until the French municipal reorganisation St. Odiliënberg belonged to the administrive division known as Ambt Montfort, but it became a separate commune/municipality c. 1810, until it remerged in Ambt Montfort
Ambt Montfort
Ambt Montfort is a former municipality in the Dutch province of Limburg.In 1991, the municipalities of Montfort, Posterholt, Reutje and Sint Odiliënberg merged. The original name of the merged municipality was "Posterholt", but it was changed in "Ambt Montfort" in 1994. On January 1, 2007, Ambt...
and later Roerdalen
Roerdalen
- Population centres :*Herkenbosch*Melick*Montfort*Posterholt*Reutje*Sint Odiliënberg*Vlodrop- External links :*...
.
Notable residents
- Connie PalmenConnie PalmenAldegonda Petronella Huberta Maria "Connie" Palmen is a Dutch author.Palmen debuted with the novel De wetten , published in the USA as The Laws , translated by Richard Huijing...
, writer, born in St. Odiliënberg - Geert ChatrouGeert Chatrou-Early life:Chatrou was born in Sint Odiliënberg in 1969. He started whistling at the age of four inspired by his father who used to whistle around the house.-Career:...
, professional whistler, born in St. Odiliënberg