Herford

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Coordinates: 52°8′N 8°41′E

Herford
Coat of arms of Herford Location of Herford in Germany
Country Germany
State Nordrhein-Westfalen
Administrative region Detmold
District Herford
Population 65,050 (2005)
Area 78.98 km²
Population density 824 /km²
Elevation 56-240 m
Coordinates 52°8′ N 8°41′ E
Postal code 32049, 32051, 32052
Area code 05221
Licence plate code HF
Mayor Bruno Wollbrink (SPD)
Website [1]
Herforder Münster
Herforder Münster

Herford is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the lowlands between the mountain chains of the Wiehengebirge and the Teutoburg Forest. It is the capital of the district of Herford and belongs to the conurbation around Bielefeld.

Contents

[edit] Geography

[edit] Geographic location

The previously Hanseatic city of Herford is situated in the mountain chains south of the Wiehengebirge (Ravensberger Hügelland). The highest place is the Dornmountain (240 m) in the Schwarzenmoor district; the lowest point (56 m) is located in the Werretal in the Falkendiek district. The River Aa joins the river Werre in the center of the city. The Stuckenberg is located east of the city.

[edit] Neighbouring cities

[edit] Districts

  • Altstädter Feldmark
  • Neustädter Feldmark
  • Radewiger Feldmark
  • Diebrock¹
  • Eickum¹
  • Elverdissen¹
  • Falkendiek¹
  • Herringhausen¹
  • Laar¹
  • Schwarzenmoor¹
  • Stedefreund¹

[edit] Culture and sights

[edit] Museums

The MARTa Herford, a museum for contemporary art and design directed by Jan Hoet and designed by Frank Gehry, has been open to the public since May 2005. Its exhibits change regularly.

The Daniel-Pöppelmann-Haus in Herford explores the history of the city, and the Memorial and Meeting Place Cell Block, in the basement of the city hall, documents the persecution and the obliteration of minorities. Moreover, the municipal administration intends to construct a museum of city history next to the city hall and the Münster church.

[edit] Music and theatre

The Stadttheater (Municipal theatre) provides seats for 706 viewers and it is served by visiting groups. Several halls and rooms are available at StadtPark/Schützenhof.

[edit] Events at regular intervals

  • Easter Fair around Easter (Oster-Kirmes)
  • Jazz Festival May - Performances of different jazz artists in a couple of bars
  • Organ Summer
  • Vision's Fair June
  • Summer Stage Summer (Sommerbühne) - Concerts at the square between city hall and market hall
  • Hoekerfest August - Municipal festival with plenty of events in the city centre
  • City Fair October - In the city centre
  • Herbstzeitlos (Autumnally timeless) Autumn - Exhibition at the former depot site
  • Wine Festival Autumn - At Gänsemarkt
  • Christmas Lights December - Municipal Christmas fair (Weihnachtsmarkt)

[edit] History

The town was founded in 789 by Charlemagne in order to guard a ford crossing the narrow Werre river. A century later, Matilda, daughter of Theudebert, duke of Saxony, grew up in the abbey of Herford; she was a descendant of the Saxon leader Widukind. In Herford she met Henry the Fowler, who later became king of Germany.

In late medieval times Herford was a member of the Hanseatic League. It was a Free Imperial City, i.e. it was directly subordinated to the emperor. This status was lost after the Peace of Westphalia (1648), when Herford was annexed by Brandenburg.

[edit] Military

Herford is the location of the 1st Armoured Division and the headquarters of the British Forces Germany. There is also a telecommunications office in the town. Currently there are 870 soldiers serving at the three camps. Including the civil staff and the families, 2200 British people live in Herford.

The Wentworth barracks are the German station of the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS).

[edit] Connections

Herford is twinned with Quedlinburg, the town of Hinckley in England, Fredericia in Denmark and Gorzów Wielkopolski in Poland. City-friendships include Quincy in the USA and Vodice in Croatia.

[edit] Born in Herford

[edit] External link

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Coat of Arms of Herford district
Cities and towns in Herford (district)

Bünde | Enger | Herford | Hiddenhausen | Kirchlengern | Löhne | Rödinghausen | Spenge | Vlotho |

 
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