Kruiswegpark

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

Introduction

Ways of the Cross and processional park laid out in 1919/1920 after a ground plan by Dr. P.J.H. Cuypers. The consecration of the park took place on 22 August 1920. The purpose of the park was to accommodate pilgrims in the park during times of great congestion in the chapel.

Description

The Ways of the Cross and processional park has an area of 1.7 ha. The terrain has the shape of an elongated triangle.

Due to the manner of design and layout the park appears more extensive. The winding paths are excavated close beside each other and the earth obtained was used to construct high banks beside the paths. These banks, which are planted with trees and shrubs, prevent the view from one path to another during the summer months, so that one also gets the impression of walking along a long winding route. The meandering paths lead past fourteen stations of the Cross with images approximately 1.30 m high. Thirteen of these stations are housed in small chapels with iron gates in front. The first station comes from the studio of Dr. P.J.H. Cuypers. Its designer is the Roermond sculptor C. Lücker. The twelfth station (Calvary group on the Ways of the Cross) is by J. Geelen, Roermond. The remaining stations were designed and made by C. Lücker. The images are all carved from Kunrader sandstone. Sometimes the coats of arms of the donors are placed in the station tableaux.

In 1926/1927 a chapel was built in front of the Calvary hill, so that in the summer months the Holy Mass could be said in the open air. In 1934 a sandstone pulpit was added.

Along the processional way that runs outside around the Calvary hill, eight paintings behind glass in niches are displayed during the pilgrimage season. The niches were erected in 1934/1935 in remembrance of the fifth centenary celebration of the Chapel in 't Zand as a place of pilgrimage. These paintings tell the story of the history of the chapel and the image of Mary found in a well at that location. These paintings are by the Roermond artist Albin Windhausen.

The park has various species of trees: the golden chain tree, Japanese maple and tree of heaven. Also noteworthy are old plane trees, Dutch limes and red beeches which are scattered throughout the park.

Valuation

The Ways of the Cross park at the Chapel in 't Zand possesses great cultural-historical value as a distinctive expression of Roman Catholic spiritual development and as an important component of the place of pilgrimage.

Various objects in the park possess architectural-historical value such as the stations of the Cross, which are important for the history of architecture, because of the material applied and the ornamentation. The design of the park also possesses architectural-historical value as an example of the work of architect Dr. P.J.H. Cuypers. The Ways of the Cross park possesses ensemble value because of its location near the Chapel in 't Zand and the Redemptorist monastery and is thus of particular importance for the appearance of Roermond. The Ways of the Cross park is finally of general importance because of the architectural integrity of the various objects in the park and the high-quality architectural quality of, amongst others, the park layout. The Ways of the Cross park is also of general importance because of its typological and functional rarity.