According to this legend, he went on an annual pilgrimage from his hometown of Herstal to the monastery on Mount Petrus (nowadays known as Sint Odiliënberg), which was supposedly founded by saints Wiro of Roermond, Plechelmus, and Otgerus.

[1] On his way to this monastery, Pepin got stuck in the vast swamps south of Echt, but a few neighbors saved him from drowning.

Pepin was so grateful to the inhabitants of Echt that he donated a large piece of land and had a dyke and bridge built across the swamp.

In November 1940, the legend was also told to the Reich Commissioner of the occupied Netherlands, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, during his visit to the province of Limburg.

Pepinusbrug does not have place name signs, and consists of about 40 houses excluding the care facility Pergamijn which is home to about 200 people.