Teufelsturm Menden - Home of the Westf. Fastnacht

According to tradition, the "Duivels- or Düfelsturm" tower was given its name during the time of the witch hunts, when men and women accused of witchcraft were imprisoned in it. It was built from sandstone and Menden conglomerate as part of the town fortifications in the mid-14th century.

In 1978, the half-ruined tower came to the attention of the Menden Carnival Society Kornblumenblau (MKG), which decided to turn the old walls into a home for the Westfalen Carnival.

Between 1978 and 1981, the members of the MKG spent more than 10,000 hours of their own time and money renovating the tower and bringing it back to life. For the 25th anniversary, the tower was thoroughly renovated and the exhibition was redesigned with the support of the NRW Foundation, the Sparkasse Menden Foundation and the Westfalen Carnival Association. State-of-the-art media technology and informative exhibits have turned the Devil's Tower into an adventure museum.

To the right of the Devil's Tower is one of the few red-brick half-timbered houses in Menden's old town. This magnificent half-timbered house with St. Andrew's crosses as decorative elements was originally built as a baroque rectory. Later, the only ropery in Menden was located here. A precious rococo door leaf still adorns the entrance to the house today.