Bernardusstraat

Fig. 37: Location of the Bernardusstraat

The Bernardusstraat is locally called the 'Hèlstraot'. The old name in the Middle Ages was different again: 'Hoogbruggestraat' ('Platea Hobruggen'), named after the high bridge over the Jeker River that lay at the end of this street, behind the city gate called Helpoort (Hell’s Gate) – the oldest still existing city gate of the country (1229). In those days, the road led the traveler south, to the Church of Saint Peter. In Latin, the street was called 'in alto ponte' or 'in vico alti pontis'. The later name of the street is Helstraat, possibly derived from the house 'in die Helle', which was located there. The bakery of the chapter of Our Lady was located on this street. The most recent name Bernardusstraat comes from the preaching of the second crusade near the Church of Our Lady by Bernardus van Clairvaux from around 1147.

Fig. 47: The Bernardusstraat today.

Reference: 

Schaepkens van Riemst, J., “Eenige bijzonderheden omtrent straten, pleinen en bewoners van het oude Tricht”, in: Publications de la Société Historique et Archéologique dans le Limbourg, 43 (1907), 39-369; PSHAL 67 (1931), 187-232; PSHAL 68 (1932), 71-112; PSHAL 69 (1933), 63-86.