Attendorn, Medieval Hanseatic city in Kreis Olpe, Germany
Attendorn is a medium-sized town in Kreis Olpe, located in the Sauerland region of North Rhine-Westphalia. The old town sits along the Bigge river and consists of narrow lanes, timber-framed houses and small squares between remnants of defensive walls.
The settlement grew along a trade route through the Sauerland hills and became a member of the Westphalian Hanseatic League during the Middle Ages. Town rights and fortifications secured its position as a local trading center for several centuries.
Local residents gather in the pedestrian zone on weekends, where shops and cafés occupy half-timbered buildings with painted facades. The town square serves as a meeting point, with benches and market stalls forming a social center for neighbors.
The town center can be walked across in about half an hour, with most of the core area closed to cars. Parking is available on the edge of the old town, from where all points of interest are within walking distance.
A network of caves sits in the hills near town, forming one of the longest underground systems in the region. Visitors can walk through guided paths to see underground lakes and mineral formations inside the rock chambers.
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