Altenberger Dom

The Cistercians established the Altenberg Abbey as early as 1133. A Romanesque predecessor building was consecrated around 1160, but due to the growth of the order, construction of the current Gothic church began in 1255. Count Adolf IV of Berg laid the foundation stone in 1259. The choir was consecrated in 1287, and the overall consecration followed in 1379. Until 1511, the church served as the burial site for the Counts and Dukes of Berg, as well as the Dukes of Jülich-Berg. The abbey was dissolved in 1803 as part of the secularization. Since 1857, the cathedral has been used simultaneously by both denominations as a parish church.

The Altenberg Cathedral is located in the Altenberg district of the municipality of Odenthal in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis. It is situated in the Dhünn valley on the western edge of the Bergisches Land, approximately 20 kilometers northeast of Cologne.

This imposing structure is a protected monument in North Rhine-Westphalia and is owned by the state. It continues to function as an active sacred building for both denominations. The architecture reflects the evolution of Gothic style, from the initially strict Cistercian rules to later embellishments and colored window designs, particularly evident in the large west window from around 1400.

• Strauweiler Castle (castle, approx. 1835 m away)
• Landscheid Castle (Burscheid) (castle, approx. 2206 m away)
• Haniel Castle (castle, approx. 3310 m away)
• Steinbüchel Manor (Leverkusen) (manor house and estate, approx. 4242 m away)