Heisterbach Abbey: North Rhine-Westphalia
This Cistercian abbey was first founded in 1189 and consecrated in October 1237. Heisterbach Abbey was previously one of the most profitable of the Cistercian orders, drawing revenue from nearby towns as well as holding a number of large possessions. It was dissolved in 1803 during secularization, and has since been used to house an English garden, for tourism promotional photography, and since 1919 has again been a base for the area’s religious community. The domed remain, situated within the Siebengebirge, hints at the previous richness of an abbey which is now hidden within the woods and mountains.
Heisterbach Abbey, Heisterbacher Straße, 53639 Königswinter, Germany, +49 211 9269355.