Heisterbach

Heisterbach is a village and a district of the town of Siegburg in the Rhein-Sieg-Kreis, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the western edge of the Siebengebirge hills, approximately five kilometers southeast of Siegburg's town center. Historically, Heisterbach was known for its Cistercian abbey, Kloster Heisterbach, founded in 1189. The abbey was a significant religious and cultural center in the region for centuries. Although the monastery was dissolved during the secularization in 1803 and largely fell into ruin, the impressive remains of its Romanesque basilica, particularly its choir, still stand today and are a popular tourist attraction. The area around Heisterbach is characterized by its scenic natural beauty, with forests and walking trails contributing to its appeal. The village itself has a population of a few thousand inhabitants and retains a predominantly rural character, despite its proximity to the larger city of Siegburg and the Rhine-Metropolitan region. It is part of the larger administrative district of Rhein-Sieg-Kreis.