Heisterbach Abbey Choir Ruins

The monastery ruin Heisterbach is the remnant of a former Cistercian abbey in the Siebengebirge (Stadtgebiet Königswinter).

Between Oberdollendorf and Heisterbacherrott lies at the foot of Weilberg (247m) the monastery landscape Heisterbach. The facility looks back on a long history. Already in 1192 the Cistercians moved to the Heisterbachtal. In 1215 the monastery Marienstatt in the Kroppacher Schweiz was founded from here. On October 18, 1237, the Cistercians consecrated the abbey church. It measured 88m in length and 44m in width and was thus larger than the Bonner Münster.
Until 1327, the Cistercians continued to work, then the monastery Heisterbach was completely completed and formed from then on the spiritual center in the Siebengebirge, until the dissolution of the monastery as a result of the Reichsdeputationshauptschlusses of 1803.
1809 Kloster Heisterbach was sold to demolition to a French businessman, who promptly laid down the mighty church. Only the choir ruin and the baroque gatehouse with some 18th century farm buildings could be saved from destruction by a later decision.
Count zur Lippe-Biesterfeld acquired the grounds in 1820 and had an English landscaped garden built around the buildings. From 1919, the Augustinians resumed the monastery until they requested the closure in 2008 for lack of "personnel".
Since 1984, a foundation cares for the preservation and development of the monastery landscape Heisterbacher Tal. The activity of the foundation aims to make the different historic time periods of Kloster Heisterbach come alive. The picturesque choir ruin in front of the forest background is today an epitome of Rhine romance.

A beautiful place to rest for a short time, who wants to can be served in the cafe. We took a break with a snack on the premises and enjoyed it more :)