Sint Michaëlklooster

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

Description of complex component 9

The MONASTERY GARDEN from 1875-1900 of the monastery St. Michaël in Steyl of the monastery St. Michaël is broadly bounded by the Maas to the west, the Kloosterstraat to the north, the Zustersstraat to the north-east and the Arnoldus Janssenstraat to the east. The Veerweg forms a right angle with the Arnoldus Janssenstraat and forms the boundary to the south. In broad outline, the following compartmentalisation can be identified in the monastery garden. - Between the St. Michaëlstraat and the Maas stands the Mission House St. Michaël; the garden layout here consists of tall mature trees including a lime tree avenue parallel to the river as well as a footpath parallel to the Maas; otherwise the paths have a winding pattern. The paths are unmetalled and have brick edgings, cemented or otherwise. Striking trees, besides lime, include acacia and chestnut. This compartment has a decorative function but also serves for relaxation; it is completely walled and accessible through a gate to the south of the Mission House St. Michaël (on the St. Michaëlstraat) and via a gate to the north of the Mission House, at a square with lime trees, near the car park. - The utilitarian compartment of the monastery garden is enclosed between four streets, namely the St. Michaëlstraat (west side), Parkstraat (north), Tuinstraat (north-east), Arnoldus Janssenstraat (east) and the Veerweg (south) and is surrounded by a high brick wall. The utilitarian compartment is accessible from the St. Michaëlstraat (just to the north of the Mission Museum) and from the Parkstraat (beside the greenhouse). The paths are unmetalled and have brick edgings on several occasions, cemented or otherwise, sometimes incorporating broken bricks and rubble, also clinker. This compartment is characterised among other things by orchards, lawn, double lime tree planting on the side of the Parkstraat, a vegetable garden, a pergola, flower beds, two greenhouses and a path layout that is largely orthogonal in character. Running for tens of metres approximately in the middle of this compartment, parallel to the Parkstraat, is a more than head-high garden wall; this wall is perfectly straight and forms a right angle with the enclosure wall along the Tuinstraat. Near the corner of Parkstraat and Tuinstraat tall mature trees rise up, including lime, with a centrally situated lawn; here two grottos dedicated to Mary are encountered, and also in this corner of the monastery garden stands a statue of Saint Aloysius. The lawn around this statue is more or less circular in form and is marked off with rubble and clinker and is accessible through a kind of gateway. This gateway consists of an artificially formed rock formation made of brick, rubble and clinker. Around the lawn runs a sandy path. Directly opposite the statue of Aloysius lies the entrance to a Mary grotto. The path layout is further winding and there is a sense of variation with opportunities for views; nevertheless this part of the garden is largely enclosed in character. The grottos are designs of the lay brother gardener Gerard Rademan. - The third compartment of the monastery garden is bounded on the west side by the St. Michaëlstraat and on the north-west by the Kloosterstraat. The Zustersstraat forms the northern boundary and the Arnoldus Janssenstraat the eastern boundary while the Parkstraat provides the southern boundary. On the corner of Parkstraat and St. Michaëlstraat stands the printing works with chimney. This part of the monastery garden is accessible through entrances on the Parkstraat and on the Kloosterstraat. Gate and wall structures enclose this compartment from the public road. The character of the compartment is largely to be described as religious, devotional and commemorative; nevertheless two orchards and an ornamental garden are encountered. Notable elements consist of the burial ground with chapel, the Sacred Heart mound, a raised wooden pavilion, the Lourdes grotto and the water tower. Near the Lourdes grotto lies a small pond with bamboo, bulrush and a small fountain. To the west of the water tower is a more or less square plot planted with oak trees, in rows. From there a rectangular grassy area, formerly a sports field, slopes towards the west, in the direction of the printing works. Along the south side runs an elevated path alongside the grassy area, connected to the grassy area by means of brick steps placed at intervals. This southern path is planted with maple on the side of the grassy area while on the other side are oak trees: here runs the Parkstraat. On the north side the grassy area is closed off by a cemented wall of many tens of metres in length; here is a small gate with two brick pillars and iron railings. On the east side, in the direction of the water tower, lies a broad concrete step of seven risers with corresponding side walls, leading to/from a terrace above, where a concrete border in the form of a half-rectangle rises from ground level. The path layout is largely winding and leads through dense shrubbery. Between the burial ground and water tower runs a sunken lane. The paths are unmetalled and have brick edgings on several occasions, cemented or otherwise, sometimes incorporating broken bricks and rubble, also clinker. The uncemented bricks are stacked, laid in bond and occasionally placed in herringbone pattern (near the Sacred Heart mound). Relief appears at the Sacred Heart mound and at the water tower. Striking planting includes among others acacia, conifer and cypress (at the Sacred Heart mound), lime (along the avenue to the east of the Sacred Heart mound) and Italian poplar (near the water tower).

Assessment of complex component 9

The monastery garden of the monastery St. Michaël represents a matter of general interest owing to:

- its age;

- the close functional, historical and visual relationship between monastery and monastery garden;

- its significance for the history of garden design;

- its rarity within the range of religious heritage in our country;

- the integrity of its layout, planting and composition;

- the religious and historical experiential values it embodies;

- its cultural-historical significance as a remarkable example of a monastery layout from the period of the Kulturkampf;

- the degree of originality, richness, rarity and variety of the various religious elements and artefacts of the monastery garden as well as the interrelationship of these elements and artefacts.