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Attendorn

Attendorn
Attendorn, vom Dach der Atta-Höhle.jpg
Coat of arms of Attendorn
Coat of arms
Attendorn  is located in Germany
Attendorn
Attendorn
Coordinates: 51°07′N 07°54′E / 51.117°N 7.900°E / 51.117; 7.900Coordinates: 51°07′N 07°54′E / 51.117°N 7.900°E / 51.117; 7.900
Country Germany
State North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region Arnsberg
District Olpe
Government
 • Mayor Christian Pospischil (SPD)
Area
 • Total 97.86 km2 (37.78 sq mi)
Elevation 257 m (843 ft)
Population (2015-12-31)
 • Total 24,676
 • Density 250/km2 (650/sq mi)
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes 57439
Dialling codes 02722
Vehicle registration OE
Website www.attendorn.de

Attendorn (About this sound  ) is a German town in the Olpe district in North Rhine-Westphalia. As of 2008 it had a population of 24,801.

The town’s location was favoured by the good climate in the Attendorn-Elsper Limestone Double Basin (Attendorn-Elsper-Kalkdoppelmulde), the fruitful soil and favourable transport potential, and was already attracting people in prehistoric times. Heavier settlement, however, can be traced only as far back as the Middle Ages.

The town lies at the crossroads of two former long-distance roads, the Heidenstraße (“Heath Road”) and the so-called Königsstraße (“King’s Road”). Here, in Charlemagne’s time, arose a parish. Under the St.-Johannes-Kirche (church) are found the foundations of an old missionary church. In 1072, Archbishop Anno of Cologne endowed the Grafschaft Abbey and granted it, among other things, rights to an estate in Attendorn. Indeed, the monastery’s endowment document stands as the town’s earliest documentary mention.

In 1222, town rights, on the Soest model, were granted the town under Engelbert II of Berg. Schnellenberg Castle, built about 1200, and the acquisition of the Waldenburg (another castle) in 1248 served to safeguard Cologne’s interests in the region.

Attendorn’s heyday was brought about not only by its nine guilds but also, and mainly, by its wool and linen weavers. Furthermore, the town’s political and ecclesiastical status as a bulwark against the County of Mark and as seat of a deanery in the old Archbishopric of Cologne brought it wealth and prosperity. As the Sauerland’s only town, Attendorn joined the Rhenish League of Towns in 1255. Attendorn was only an indirect member of the Hanse, and was thus represented at the Hanseatic League’s great assemblies by the town of Soest.


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