Gulpen
Encyclopedia
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...
province of Limburg
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...
. It is approximately midway between the Dutch city of Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
and the German city of Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
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Gulpen was a separate municipality until 1999, when it merged with Wittem
Wittem
Wittem is a small village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem.Wittem was a separate municipality until 1999, when it merged with Gulpen.-External links: Map of the former municipality, around 1868....
. The newly formed municipality is called Gulpen-Wittem
Gulpen-Wittem
Gulpen-Wittem is a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands with 14.677 inhabitants as of 2008.Gulpen-Wittem came into being after the merger of the municipalities Gulpen and Wittem. This took place after a request of both municipalities. At the time of the merger, both municipalities had...
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The town itself derives its name from the river Gulp, which runs straight through the centre of the village and characterises the townscape.
There 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,...
tower in the old cemetery, which dates from the 11th Century and is the only still existing part of a mediaeval village church. Considering its construction (its walls are up to 2 metres thick) and its location, it probably also served as defence tower, where the local villagers could go in case of danger.
The former rectory, which leans against the tower, dates from 1732. It is now being let as luxurious group accommodation.
The current Neo-Romanesque
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
St.Petrus church dates from 1924 and was designed by Casper Franssen.
A former monastery that was built in 1932 after a design by Alphons Boosten
Alphons Boosten
Alphons Boosten was a Dutch architect, who practiced in the province of Limburg....
is being used as town hall.
The village is home to the Gulpener Brewery
Gulpener Brewery
Gulpener Brewery is a Dutch brewery in Gulpen, Limburg, the Netherlands. The brewery was founded in 1825 by Laurens Smeets.-Brief details:...
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Every year in June, a walking tour of 70 kilometres is organised that is called the Nacht van Gulpen(Night of Gulpen). A little over a thousand people participate in this event each year.