Menden

Menden is a medium-sized district town in Märkischer Kreis in North Rhine-Westphalia at the northern edge of Sauerland. The buildings spread across gentle hills and valleys along the Hönne river at roughly 150 meters above sea level.

The settlement emerged in the early Middle Ages and received town rights in 1276 from the Archbishop of Cologne. In later centuries the place changed from a religious center into a location with industry.

The name appears in documents from the ninth century and the settlement grew around several church buildings. Today the town hall and the old half-timbered streets in the center shape the appearance of the place for visitors.

The town sits on connections between the Ruhr area and Sauerland and offers schools of different levels for families. Shops and facilities concentrate in the center around the market square.

The museum displays medieval finds along with prehistoric human remains and the skeleton of a cave bear from the region. Three stages spread across the town and perform different productions throughout the year.

Location: Märkischer Kreis

Elevation above the sea: 150 m

Shares border with: Hemer, Arnsberg, Balve, Iserlohn

Website: https://menden.de

GPS coordinates: 51.43779,7.79538

Latest update: December 13, 2025 19:51