Detmold

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Detmold
The princely castle.
The princely castle.
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Detmold
Detmold (Germany)
Detmold
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region Detmold
District Lippe
Town subdivisions 26
Mayor Rainer Heller (SPD)
Basic statistics
Area 129.39 km² (50 sq mi)
Elevation 134 m  (440 ft)
Population 73,707  (31/12/2006)
 - Density 570 /km² (1,475 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate LIP
Postal codes 32701–32760
Area codes 05231/05232
Website www.detmold.de
Location of the town of Detmold within Lippe district
Map

Coordinates: 51°56′0″N 8°53′0″E / 51.93333, 8.88333

Detmold (IPA: [ˈdɛtmɔlt]) is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with a population of about 74,000. It was the capital of the small Principality of Lippe from 1468 until 1918 and then of the Free State of Lippe until 1947. Today it is the administrative center of the district of Lippe and of Regierungsbezirk Detmold.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Middle Ages

Detmold was first mentioned in 783 as Theotmalli, and in 1005 a Tietmelli or Theotmalli region (Gau) is referred to in documents. In 1263, Bernard III of Lippe fortified the settlement at the crossing of the trade route from Paderborn to Lemgo over the Werre River with stone walls and granted it a municipal charter. Its population was reported in 1305 as 305. Market rights granted in 1265 led to rapid economic development. Its defenses were greatly strengthened after severe damage had been inflicted on the town during the conflict with Soest in 1447. A major fire in 1547 destroyed more than 70 houses.

Engraving of a view of the town of Detmold by Matthäus Merian, 1647
Engraving of a view of the town of Detmold by Matthäus Merian, 1647

In 1550, Detmold became the permanent residence of Count Simon III of Lippe. The counts were elevated to princes in 1789, and Detmold remained the capital of this small principality until the end of the First World War in 1918, when all princely states in Germany were abolished.

[edit] Modern era

Street lighting was introduced in 1809, with oil-fired lanterns. By 1835, the town had become the most populous in Lippe, with over 4,000 residents. It grew to 12,000 in 1900 and over 30,000 in 1950.

From 1919 to 1947, Detmold was the capital of the Free State of Lippe. When Lippe was incorporated into the new German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the town became the seat of the Lippe district, and since 1972 it is the seat of the county administration of Lippe. With the administrative reform of 1970, 25 nearby villages were incorporated into the city.

[edit] Main sights

  • Hochschule für Musik Detmold (Music Academy of Detmold)
  • Westfälisches Freilichtmuseum Detmold (Westfalian Open Air Museum)
  • Lippisches Landesmuseum (Museum)
  • Landestheater Detmold (Theater)
  • Hermannsdenkmal (Arminius Monument)
  • Adlerwarte Berlebeck (Falconry)
  • Fürstliches Residenzschloß, a Renaissance castle in the center of the town park.
  • Donoper Teich (pond)
  • Hasselbachteich (pond)
  • Vogelpark Heiligenkirchen (bird sanctuary)

[edit] Sister cities

Market and town hall.
Market and town hall.

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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Towns and municipalities in Lippe
Coat of Arms of Lippe district