Come and discover all the sides of the city: Minden – Absolutely remarkable! The founding of Minden: In 772 A.D., during the Saxonian conquests, Charlemagne (Karl der Große) pit his armies against rival chieftain Widukind (Witte - kind). After years of bitter struggle, in 798 A.D. a peace treaty was created and signed at the foot of his castle on the banks of the Weser. It was then decreed that, “This cast- le shall from henceforth on be ‘min’ (mine) and ‘din’ (yours).” That’s how ‘Minden’ got its name – remarkable! Welcome to Remarkable Minden Content Credits Dear Guest, Publishing and Content: Welcome and thank you for reading! In the next Preface...………………………………….……..…………2 Minden Marketing GmbH few pages, the team here at Minden Marketing GmbH Welcome to Historic Minden Domstraße 2 • 32423 Minden would like to introduce you our gem of a city and Credits.........…………………………………..……….….2 phone: (05 71) 8 29 06 59 some of the possibilities that it has to offer! fax: (05 71) 8 29 06 63 We highly encourage all of our guests (and locals!) to Once upon a time in 798 ... www.mindenmarketing.de Welcome to Historic Minden.......……...…...……3 E-mail:[email protected] explore our remarkable city and also the surrounding www.minden-erleben.de region! Minden: well worth seeing...…….…………...……4 …Charlemagne (Karl der Große) called for Located where the town market (Marktbetrieb) now sits, Editing: Minden is host to a long history filled with traditions Minden Marketing GmbH an assembly in Minda. Found in the Minden’s successful medieval market drew traders, craftsmen Minden, City of Churches..………...…………....…6 and customs! Today our city is enriched by diverse Printing: cultural activities, magical festivals, athletic events, French annals, this record is the first and commerce to the city. Minden in the Weser Renaissance.……..…....…8 JCC Bruns GmbH unique shopping locales, delectable cuisine and last, official mention of Minden and marks the In the Middle Ages, Minden was part of the Hanseatic League, © 2009 | Auflage: 5.000 but not least, abundant recreation and leisure oppor- beginning of more than 1200 years of an extensive network of trading cities and guilds. These ties Minden and Prussia...............…….…..…...….....…9 Schutzgebühr: 5,00 € tunities. Together they help make Minden into the remarkable place that it is. history. In the year 800, Minden became to commercial cities helped Minden to grow and flourish. Layout and Design: Leisure in Minden.............……........…….……..…10 [email protected] a diocese town (Bischofssitz) and Eventually, the Marien- and Simeon- hamlets (Vorstädte) All of these opportunities are available both as established its first cathedral. came to be. Experiencing Minden...……..….…....….…………12 Photographs and Images: individual and group packages through our booking American Jewish Archives (Cincinnati/Ohio), service! Whether you’re planning an extended By 977, Minden enjoyed many privileges In Minden an economic boom followed the Reformation. Atelier Pfleiderer/S. Pohlmann, A. Bernhard Minden and the Surrounding Region...…...…14 vacation, day-tripping, or just passing through; our (Ring der Wassersportvereine um die Porta including the right to coin money, furnish Today many of the constructions built during this time still Westfalica e.V.), R. Brune, W. Hedrich, booking service can help make your visit to Minden markets, levy tariffs and to hold court. grace the city. One can also find many architectural remnants B. Horstmann (www.treffpunkt-minden.de), unforgettable! P. Hübbe, V. Krusche, Minden Marketing These laid the foundations for the further and traces of the years under the Brandenburg-Prussian GmbH, M. Lorenz, M. Otto, B. Schulte, Your Team at the Minden Marketing GmbH development of the episcopal town. monarchy. See the sights and stroll through the centuries! Chr. Schwier, Chr. Weber, A. Weigelt, H. Wiese, D. Wilkening, This brochure was made possible with the generous financial support of the JCC Bruns GmbH. 2 2 3 A view of Minden from the columned cloister of the cathedral’s westwork. The old hamlet (Vorstadt) of Minden, a picturesque fishing village (‘Fischerstadt’), has had its own fortifications since the Middle Ages. Every Thursday at exactly 8:00 p.m., Minden’s night- watchman Helga Simon begins her rounds at the Minden well worth seeing city-hall alcove (Rathaus - laube). From here she well worth seeing winds her way through the picturesque passages of the Minden’s exceptional history becomes even more old city (Altstadt). apparent when strolling through the town’s Company is heartily wel- upper and lower districts! Wandering along the comed and is sure to find a cobbled streets and lanes can feel nearly medie- very special sort of nightlife! val; the narrow timbered houses harkening back to a time when craftsmen and merchants still traded their wares. Close by sit the proud and stately 16th century houses of merchants and gentry – impressive More than 1000 years old, Minden’s cathedral Today Minden bears the traces of Romanesque, reminders of the wealth and self-confidence harmoniously combines romantic and gothic Gothic, Weser Renaissance and Classical styles, of this era. The quiet beauty of the buildings’ architectural styles. Considered by many to be all of which add to its distinctive history and romantic angles and ivy-covered facades makes the most beautiful hall church in Germany, the charm. Come and get away from it all! for a perfect pause. cathedral is not to be missed! Just a few steps Enjoy the magic of Minden! away sits the impressive town hall, complete with the oldest ‘town hall alcove’ (Rathauslaube) in Westphalia. Shopping thoroughfares flanked by stores and broad open squares alternate with narrow alleyways and quiet lanes. Learning about Minden can be very entertaining! Try a walking Minden’s proud inhabitants have worked passio- history lesson while strolling through the many sites with a friendly nately to restore their city to its pre-war charm. tour guide. Groups can book themed tours focusing on Minden’s churches (Kirchen in Minden), the botanical garden and old ceme- tery (Botanischer Garten und Alter Friedhof), Prussian Tour The Straße am Weingarten is a typical street in the (Preußentour), the Weser Renaissance (Weserrenaissance), as well Old Town (Altstadt). as the “Cool Wine and Fresh Beer” (Kühler Wein und frisches The regal “Haus Voss” was originally the town’s curia Bier) tour. Check the Tourist Information booth on Domstraße (administrative building), but was taken over by the The so-called “Alte locksmith and metalworker Julius Voss in 1893. for more information and current tour offerings. Münze” (Old Coin) was The city-hall (Rathaus) was built in 1260 The blacksmith’s lingering craftsmanship still adorns built out of sandstone out of stone to serve as a tribute to the town. the doors. blocks in the 13 th Near St. Martinkirche stands a timbered house century. The beautiful, gothic alcove (Rathauslaube) Though the original pur- is still present today. After sustaining extensive (Fachwerkhaus). In bygone centuries, this was the home pose of this building is now damage in the wars, the building was restored of Minden’s ‘waits’, who served as the city’s watchmen, unknown, it was used as a by Berlin architect Werner March. tower keepers and also musicians. The “Windloch” was mint in the 16 built next door to serve as a storage barn. th century. 4 5 Minden’s cathedral is located in the center of the city. One can climb the towers on the first and third Saturdays of the month at 11:00 a.m. This row of “Weser sharp. A stained-glass Renaissance” houses is part window known as the ‘Rose of the Minden Museum of of Minden’ (Mindener Rose) History, Region, and graces the northern nave. Folklore. MindenWeser in the WeserRenaissance Renaissance ChurchChurch City Minden City The history of Minden’s cathedral starts at the The gothic hall with its famous tracery windows end of the 8th century when a simple Saalkirche was attached to the earlier structure. The cathe- (hall church) without any towers was constructed dral was heavily damaged during World War II, on the cathedral hill. Later, this minimal edifice but has been completely restored to its earlier was replaced by a 3-aisle long-house, with form. For almost 450 years, the original Golden an eastern transept, a choir and most likely an Tablet (Goldenen Tafel) crowned the cathedral’s exterior crypt. choir. A replica tablet was commissioned for more, try touring some of Minden’s other The “Haus Hagermeyer” is During the 10th century, a central western-transept the 1200-year anniversary celebration of the churches (shown below). The Simeonis church the former home of the th was added, giving the cathedral its final shape. diocese. It has been on display since Pentecost (founded at the beginning of the 13 century) merchant (Großkaufmann) Construction on this section was completed of 2002. and the church of the Benedictines (built by and mayor (Bürgermeister) in the 12th century. Sometime before the middle Inside the cathedral, diverse Christian artefacts the same order who founded the St. Mauritius Thomas von Kampen. It is of the 13th century, a late-Romanesque choir certainly warrant closer examination. But, what- monastery in 1042) also have rich histories and the most well-known example Although the What would the hometown ledge with richly moulded glassed-fronts was ever you do, don’t miss the cathedral’s treasury! are always worth a visit! of Weser Renaissance archi- structures are much of the world famous Melitta built. The Minden Cross (dating from 1070), the Petri tecture in Minden. These older, the term Weser Company be without a coffee shrine (1071) and the silver Madonna (1230) structures are characterized Renaissance (Weser - museum? The Minden are among the many marvels contained within. by frieze patterns and renaissance) was first Museum has dedicated an If your visit to the cathedral left you eager for figures.