Poenigeturm Menden

The history of Menden dates back to the early Middle Ages. It was already one of the original parishes of the Sauerland around 800. From 1180, the small village of Menden belonged to the Electorate of Cologne. Situated close to the hostile territory of the Counts of der Mark, the unprotected village had to be expanded into a border fortress after several attacks.

In 1276, the Archbishop of Cologne, Siegfried von Westerburg, elevated Menden to the status of a town. This was associated with compulsory military service and the right to defend oneself. The people of Menden were trained as crossbowmen. The town was surrounded by a high town wall with twelve defensive towers and three town gates, built after the last serious Margravian attack from around 1344 under Archbishop Walram von Jülich.

Of the former twelve towers, the Devil's Tower (now the Museum of Westfalen Carnival), the Poenigeturm and the Rentschreiberturm at the former castle in Bahnhofstraße have been preserved. The town fortifications fell into disrepair in the 18th century and their remains were demolished between 1790 and 1813.

How to get there

• By car
  • Street Turmstraße
  • Parking spaces Parking guidance system (Rathaus underground garage, Neumarkt parking lot)
• By train
  • Menden stop (5 min.), RB 54 (Hönnetalbahn)
• By bus
  • Stops Nordwall (3 min.), lines 1, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 132, 514
  • Train station (5 min.) Lines S3, 1, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 132, 514