Oberdollendorf and its Vineyards Trail

The nature and the weather were tempting. The start and finish was the free parking lot at Heisterbach Monastery. We crossed Heisterbacher Straße and followed the path through meadows and a short stretch of forest. We then crossed the K25 and entered the beautiful mixed forest, where everything is currently sprouting. We followed the paths to Oberdollendorfer Hülle. Upon leaving the forest, you can enjoy the magnificent view of the vineyards. From Oberdollendorfer Hülle, you have a view across the Rhine to Wesseling. We descended through the vineyards past the Sülz winery. It's worth stopping in the garden here with a good glass of wine. We continued through the Mühlbachtal valley. After crossing Heisterbacher Straße again, we passed woodcarvings and the orchards, which were currently in bloom. A short stretch of Oberdollendorf followed before continuing parallel to the B42 along the small path. From up here, you have a beautiful view towards Wachtberg and the Petersberg. We passed the Jufa Hotel and walked through orchards through the forest back to the monastery. At this time, we also experience the awakening of the insects. All of the senses are stimulated.

Today we went to the Rhine without much planning. Our wine hike started at Heisterbach Monastery and we noticed that there was obviously no connection to wine growing here. But it was only obvious, because in the Middle Ages, Cistercian monks, although committed to abstinence, continued the wine-growing tradition of the Romans with great skill and ability. In the 12th century, the monks of Heisterbach Monastery played an important role in Siebengebirge wine growing and gave new impetus. There were cultivated areas as far as the Heisterbach Valley. Today, the cultivated area in Oberdollendorf, namely Rosenhügel, Laurentiusberg and Sülzenberg, has shrunk to just over 7 hectares. 🍇 We follow the Rheinhöhenweg towards Dollendorfer Hardt and cross the high mixed forest and come to Hülle, the lookout point above the vineyard. 🍷 On the wine trail we walk through the vineyards and come to Gut Sülz, the former free farm of the monastery, and climb through the Mühlental, where there used to be 18 mills. After we have reached the orchards, past the cemetery, we enjoy the beautiful path, the fruits again in autumn and the beautiful view of the Oberkasseler Wand. After the buildings, we walk through former vineyards, which we can recognize by the walls with steps and the embedded bronze plaque. Near Haus Heisterberg, the Kellerberger vineyard was replanted and shows the old wine-growing tradition with ram woods. 🍇🍷Ram wood is the name given to posts for tying the vines in the vineyards. The name comes from the Latin word ramus = branch. Back at Heisterbach Monastery, we stroll through the well-kept grounds, which are now a retirement home. I found the following about the former Cistercian monastery: https://www.ich-geh-wandern.de/kloster-heisterbach-heisterbacherrott

Start: Hiking car park Kloster Heisterbach N50.69836 E7.21184 The circular hike through the vineyards of Oberdollendorf at the transition from the Siebengebirge to the Ennert begins at the car park in the Heisterbach monastery landscape. Heisterbach Abbey was a Cistercian abbey in the Siebengebirge. The Heisterbach monastery ruins are located between Oberdollendorf and Heisterbacherrott in the Heisterbach valley. The Heisterbach Abbey Foundation was founded in 1984 with the aim of maintaining and researching the cultural heritage. In 1993, the association “Bauteile für das Leben e.V.” leased a former retirement home on the monastery grounds and converted it into an aid and information center for pregnant women and single mothers in need. Haus Heisterbach started its activities in 1995. Oberdollendorf is east of the Rhine. The town center, a multi-line street village, is already slightly elevated at 68-77 m above sea level. NHN below the vineyards on the west slope of the Dollendorfer Hardt (246.7 m above NHN). The village extends into the valley of the Dollendorfer Bach (Mühlental), The 2.2 km long wine trail leads through the approximately eight hectares of vineyards with the Laurentiusberg, Rosen Hügel and Sülzenberg vineyards. The Sülzenberg belongs to the former Freihof Gut Sülz, which dates back to the 10th century. The estate had been the property of Heisterbach Abbey since the 14th century and was the center of the Heisterbach wine industry until 1803. Through the Mühlental, in which 18 mills were in operation at peak times, it goes to the Rheinsteig. Then you pass the Heisterbacher Straße and hike through meadow orchards back to Oberdollendorf. From the Kellerberg, the last section of the trail leads through a forest area back up to the Heisterbach monastery landscape.

Today we wanted to start on the Rhine in Niederdollendorf to avoid the overflowing parking lots at higher altitudes in the Siebengebirge. In retrospect, however, this was not necessary at all. Shortly after our start, continuous rain set in and the other hikers were probably a bit frightened by it. On the program was a nice tour from the Rhine to Heisterbach Monastery, which I already knew, with a few dangling curves and bends. Despite the rain, this was a wonderful tour.

Small circular hike from Oberdollendorf and Heisterbach Abbey. A nice tour even in the cloudy and hazy weather.

Today we'll spend another great day in the Siebengebirge. Start at the free car park at the forest cemetery in Heisterbach. Then it goes through forest and meadows. The autumn colours are still very beautiful. Great views over the Rhine Valley, the vineyards, the Petersberg and towards Wachtberg are guaranteed.

No, that's not a duplicate entry! After recovering from the "exertion" of the wine trail, I continued with a "real" hike. Apart from the similar name and approximately 300 meters of distance, these two trails have nothing in common. For a tour in the Siebengebirge, the elevation profile was fairly easy and rarely steep, with the elevation gain gradually spreading over the entire distance. I loved the variety offered in the two hours. For me, this was much more than a themed trail; for the most part, it was a premium hike with many facets.👍 📔Siebengebirge Nature Park: https://www.komoot.com/de-de/collection/2517281/-naturpark-siebengebirge

That was once again a wonderful tour through the lower elevations of the Siebengebirge. On a weekday the Siebengebirge is also pleasantly empty.