The route starts at the starting sign Knopen Lopen on the Lindelaan, near the car park of restaurant De Oude Smids. From there, you walk in the direction of the former monastery Mariabosch. This complex now houses the Samen Zorgen Huis Leudal, which offers short-term palliative care.
The Klockenberg and Baexem Castle
You walk through a relatively young neighbourhood with the old farm 'de Herenslag'. Further on, on the left side of the Dorpstraat, you see the town hall of the former municipality of Baexem. Soon you approach the Klockenberg. This little park on the hill at the beginning of the Dorpsstraat was the location of the former 13th century Romanesque church of Baexem. In November 1944, the church was destroyed by the occupying forces. Opposite De Klockenberg, residential complex De Posthof is located. The name refers to the post office that once stood here. Standing on this spot, it is hard to imagine that this was once the heart of the village.
You walk along the Tramway. In days gone by this road was part of the tram line Deurne-Roermond. In Limburg, the line was operated by De Limburgse Tramweg Maatschappij (LTM). In jest it was also called 'Leeg Tot Meijel'.
To the left of the route is Huize De Brias. The white castle, built by the De Brias family, bears the date of anchorage 1717.
Carefully cross the busy traffic road. Soon you will come to Kasteel Baexem. The castle and the courtyard cannot be visited, but take a look at the courtyard at the gate. The oldest mention of the castle is from the year 1244. The present buildings were built from 1676 onwards. Originally, the castle was the home of the Van Baexem family.
Baronsberg, Aurora mill and railway station
At junction 13, head towards junction 52 and follow the signpost 'De Baronsberg'. The meadows to the left and right of the gravel path to De Baronsberg once looked very different. This is where the remains of the vanished De Borg castle were found. The remains include burial mounds, burial grounds and the remains of a settlement. Take a seat on one of the benches and enjoy the atmosphere of the surroundings and the little chapel built against the "mountain". Then return to junction 13 and take the sandy path to junction 12.
In the coming years, the area you are now passing through will look completely different as a result of the relocation of the N280 motorway.
You cross the N280 again and go to take a look at the standard mill, the Aurora mill. The mill, which used to stand between Haelen and Horn, was moved to Baexem in 1845. In 1945, miller Grubben passed away while working on the mill. Afterwards, only electric milling was used. The mill is fully milled and can be visited every Wednesday afternoon and on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month.
Via Reijndersstraat, walk towards the former station site. Stand in the middle of the "station square" and imagine how travellers drove in carriages along the avenue towards the station, took their seats in the 1879 station building and waited for the whistle of the approaching steam train to travel to distant destinations.
No plans to travel to a distant destination, but would like to experience a walk with lots of history? Then follow from the starting sign the junctions 88, 10, 14, 13, Baronsberg, 13, 12, 11, 87, 74, 85, 86 and back to the starting sign again.