Mariawald Abbey, Trappist monastery in Heimbach, Germany

Mariawald Abbey is a former Trappist monastery on the Kermeter ridge above Heimbach, between 400 and 420 metres above sea level. The white buildings with dark slate roofs line a low stone wall: on the left a three-storey house with arched ground-floor windows, a round gable window and two rows of dormers, then a lower row of connected houses with triangular dormers, and at the far right a church with a tall pointed spire.

In 1470 the roofer Heinrich Fluitter placed a Pietà in a hollow tree near Heimbach, then built a wooden chapel at a crossroads and a cell beside it to care for pilgrims. Pastor Johann Daum replaced the chapel with a wooden church in 1479 and donated it with the Pietà to the Cistercians of Bottenbroich on 10 November 1480. The first monks moved in on 4 April 1486, the founding date of the abbey.

The place is named after the Virgin Mary and draws visitors who come to pray and find moments of reflection within its walls. The monastery church with its plain stone construction and simple interior shapes the spiritual experience for those who visit.

The monastery is accessible by hiking trails from the surrounding national park and sits in a relatively remote location, so planning your approach beforehand is wise. Most visitors come for guided tours on specific days to learn about the complex and its role in monastic life.

Beer was brewed at the abbey until 1956, when production ceased partly because of the availability of water and brewing ingredients. In the 21st century new brands were developed from original recipes with larger breweries: "Fluitter", named after Heinrich Fluitter, and "nemus mariae".