Werl (;
Westphalian: ''Wiärl'') is a town located in the district of
Soest in
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia (german: Nordrhein-Westfalen, ; li, Noordrien-Wesfale ; nds, Noordrhien-Westfalen; ksh, Noodrhing-Wäßßfaale), commonly shortened to NRW (), is a state (''Land'') in Western Germany. With more than 18 million inha ...
,
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
.
Geography
Werl is easily accessible because it is located between the
Sauerland,
Münsterland, and the
Ruhr Area
The Ruhr ( ; german: Ruhrgebiet , also ''Ruhrpott'' ), also referred to as the Ruhr area, sometimes Ruhr district, Ruhr region, or Ruhr valley, is a polycentric urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population density of 2,800/km ...
. The
Hellweg
In the Middle Ages, Hellweg was the official and common name given to main travelling routes in Germany. Their breadth was decreed as an unimpeded passageway a lance's width, about three metres, which the landholders through which the Hellweg pas ...
road runs through the city, as Werl is a part of the fertile Bördelandschaft of the Werl–Unnaer Börde.
Neighbouring municipalities
Division of the town
Werl consists of the following districts:
* Blumenthal (48 inhabitants)
* Budberg (596 inhabitants)
* Büderich (3107 inhabitants)
*
Hilbeck (1339 inhabitants)
* Holtum (1049 inhabitants)
* Mawicke (521 inhabitants)
* Niederbergstraße (210 inhabitants)
* Oberbergstraße (363 inhabitants)
* Sönnern (870 inhabitants)
* Westönnen (2665 inhabitants)
* Werl (22151 inhabitants)
History
Werl was a member of the
Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages and since 1661 has had a statue of the Virgin Mary, making it a place of
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey, often into an unknown or foreign place, where a person goes in search of new or expanded meaning about their self, others, nature, or a higher good, through the experience. It can lead to a personal transformation, aft ...
. Today this relic is in the Wallfahrtsbasilika and is looked after by the Franciscan religious order. Werl Prison is the third largest in North Rhine-Westphalia,
Werl Prison
Werl Prison has about 900 inmates, and is one of the largest prisons in Germany. It is located in the town of Werl in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, east of Dortmund.
In April 1945, the 95th Infantry Division (United States) "Victory" divis ...
.
* The
4th United States Army Field Artillery Detachment
The 4th United States Army Field Artillery Detachment was located in Werl, West Germany. The Belgium, Belgian 14th and 20th Artillery Battalions of the Belgian I Corps (Belgium), I Corps were supported by the 4th U.S. Army Field Artillery Detachm ...
was stationed in Werl until 1992.
Mayors
* 1958–1965: Ferdinand Pöppinghaus (1923–1965) (
CDU)
* 1965–1981: Amalie Rohrer (1922-2014) (CDU)
* 1981–1985: Heinz Sasse (CDU)
* 1986–1994: Elisabeth Böhmer (CDU)
* 1994–1996: Kunibert Becker (1934-2001) (CDU)
* 1996–1999: Friedrich Leopold Graf von Brühl, (born 1944) (CDU)
* 1999–2020: Michael Grossmann, (born 1948) (CDU)
* since 2020: Torben Höbrink (CDU)
Notable people
*
Philipp Rosenthal
Philipp Rosenthal (6 March 1855 – 30 March 1937) was a German designer and industrialist of Jewish descent. Rosenthal founded the company Philipp Rosenthal & Co. AG in 1897 for the production of ceramic wares.
Biography
Philipp Rosenthal was ...
(1855–1937), businessman and founder of Rosenthal AG at Schloss Erkersreuth in Selb
*
Franz von Papen (1879–1969), Conservative politician, diplomat, nobleman and General Staff officer; served as
Chancellor of Germany in 1932 and as Vice-Chancellor under
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...
from 1933–1934
*
Ulla Wiesner (born 1940), singer
*
Theodor Redder
Theodor 'Theo' Redder (born 19 November 1941 in Werl) is a retired German football player. He spent six seasons in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund. He represented Germany in one friendly.
Honours
* UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winner: 1965–66 ...
(born 1941), footballer
*
Dimitri Hegemann
Dietmar-Maria "Dimitri" Hegemann (born August 26, 1954) is a German nightclub owner, cultural activist and community organizer, currently living and working in Berlin, Germany.
Early life and career
Dimitri Hegemann was born in Werl of Westfalia ...
(born 1954), cultural manager, musician and founder of the club "Tresor" in Berlin
*
Martin Kree (born 1965), footballer
*
Uwe Grauer (born 1970), footballer and coach
Twin towns – sister cities
Werl is
twinned with:
*
Halle, Belgium (1973)
References
External links
*
Images from Werl
Towns in North Rhine-Westphalia
Members of the Hanseatic League
Soest (district)
{{Soest-geo-stub