With the transnational project "Cisterscapes - Cistercian landscapes connecting europe", the monastic landscape Altenberg, together with 16 Cistercian monastic landscapes from six European countries, was awarded the European Heritage Label in April 2024. Monastic landscapes from Germany, France, Austria, Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic are involved. The overarching aim is to bring the former Cistercian network back to life and promote a shared identity.

Receiving the European Heritage Label for a monastic landscape has a sizeable external impact both for the local community and for the entire region. There are currently only 50 sites in Germany that have been awarded the European Heritage Label. The seal will give the region a unique selling point that is recognised throughout Europe. Both the local population and visitors will stand to benefit from this. The European Heritage Label and the envisaged measures should it be awarded open up offerings for specific target audiences to the district's inhabitants, make their local area more attractive in terms of leisure activities and lead people to identify more strongly with their region and its place in the overall European context. In addition, culture enthusiasts are attracted to the Rheinisch-Bergische Kreis, which in turn stimulates cultural tourism and its economic benefits.

Two new hiking trails were opened in Altenberg in autumn 2023: the "Monastery Landscape Trail" begins in Altenberg and features ten information boards along a 13.5 km route about the life of the Cistercians in the region. The "Cistercian Trail" runs 6,300 km across Europe and connects 100 monasteries in the Cistercian network, touching on numerous other attractive sights along the way.