Menden

Menden
Old townhall in Menden
Coat of arms
Menden
Location of Menden within Märkischer Kreis district
Coordinates:
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Admin. region	Arnsberg
District	Märkischer Kreis
Government
• Mayor	Volker Fleige (SPD)
Area
• Total	86.08 km2 (33.24 sq mi)
Population (2013-12-31)
• Total	53,354
• Density	620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Postal codes	58706, 58708, 58710
Dialling codes	02373 02378 (Halingen) 02379 (Asbeck)
Vehicle registration	MK
Website	www.menden.de

A sculpture from Mile Prerad (2008)

Menden is a town in the district Märkischer Kreis, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located at the north end of the Sauerland near the Ruhr river.

History

Menden's first churches were built in the 9th century. From 1180 on the area around Menden was part of the Cologne region, however, as it was on the border with the County of Mark, it was often fought over. In 1276, it received city rights. Industrialization started early: in 1695 needle production was the first industry, later followed by limestone products such as cement. In 1816 Menden was included within Prussia, after being part of Hesse for 13 years. In 1975 the city was merged with several previously independent municipalities, thus it grew in area as well as population.

Points of interest

The Hönnetal, a narrow valley with some beautiful cliffs carved into the limestone bedrock by the river Hönne.

Education

Primary education

In Menden (Sauerland), there are eleven elementary schools.

Secondary schools

Besides four hauptschulen, two realschulen, there are three grammar schools:

• Heilig-Geist-Gymnasium, only for boys until 1977
• Walburgisgymnasium
• Walramgymnasium

Culture

The theatre managed by the city government, is the Theater am Ziegelbrand (TAZ). It is directed by Volker Fleige.

Music

Menden à la carte is a popular festival. It is organized by the Initiativkreis Mendener Wirtschaft.

Theater

In Menden there are three theaters; the Theater am Ziegelbrand in an old factory building with places for 49 spectators. Another theater is located under the indoor swimming pool with places for 99 people. It is called Zimmertheater Scaramouche and corporate appearances and a traditional Christmas stage play can be seen there. For the young visitors there is a kids club. The third theater is in Halingen. It is called the Halinger Dorftheater.

Museum

Founded in 1912, the Museum of Menden specialized on the living circumstances of the citizens of Menden in medieval age. It informs about and reconstructs the equipment from farmers' and patricians' houses. It also presents bones of human beings from prehistoric times and the complete skeleton of a cave bear.

Buildings

• The ruin of Burg Rodenberg, an old caste in the forest near the indoor swimming pool.
• The St.-Vincenz-Kirche, founded in 1345, is the biggest church in Menden and is near the old city hall.
• Parts of the old city defense such as 3 towers and a little part of the city wall still exist and may be seen.

Sport

In Menden there are many sport clubs. It is the home of the Sauerland Cup, which is a competition for handball clubs from all around the world. Even clubs from Japan or Switzerland took part in 2005. It takes place in spring and nearly every sports hall available is used. Menden is also the host of an international soccer competition in which every U-10 club can take part. The Huckenohlstadion is a multi-purpose stadium. Menden also has clubs for basketball, tennis, swimming, dancing, volleyball, boxing and contests, matches and demonstrations can be attended nearly every weekend.

Regular Events

The first event in a year is the carnival, with a parade of clubs andlocal dance groups.

The second event is the Lendringser Frühling. Organized by the Lendringser Werbegemeinschaft it is an event combined with the possibility of Sunday shopping. The public can visit stalls and presentations of different groups such as a bike performance or typical food from different communities like the Greek one.

The Good Friday procession has taken place since the 17th century. The route starts near the St Vincenz Church and goes over 14 stations to the St Antonius Chapel and it begins hourly. The route is 2.5 kilometres (1.6 miles) long, and especially for the youth there is a procession with music which is well attended by young people. You can be a part of this procession from Thursday at 9 pm to Holy Saturday at 6 am.

In the time around Pentecost, Menden is organizing a kermis with amusement rides, food stands and a big firework on Tuesday at the end of the kermis. This event is a big magnet for over 300.000 people living around Menden. This event takes place during 4 days, from the Saturday before Pentecost until the Tuesday after. It opens on Saturday at 2 pm and remeins open to 12 am.

The series Mendener Sommer is a collection of several events of different national and international music artists. The events which are free and organized by the culture office are mainly in July and August and take place outside in the center of the city.

Menden à la carte is an event which takes place in the summer from Friday to Sunday and is marked culturally and culinarily.

The Mendener Herbst is an event of the Menden advertising organization and takes place every year on the 3rd weekend of October. It is a kind of a junk market for arts and crafts from the region.

Personalities

• Dendemann, singer
• Augustin Henninghaus, missionary and bishop
• Wolfram Kuschke, politician

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany

Twin towns – Sister cities

Menden is twinned with:

Aire-sur-la-Lys, France, since 1965 Ardres, France, since 1974-75 Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium, since 1978 Chalkida, Greece

Delyn, Wales. Eisenberg, Germany Flintshire, Wales, since 1980 Lestrem, France, since 1971

Locon, France, since 1964 Marœuil, France, since 1984 Plungė, Lithuania, since 1992-93 Lee's Summit, Missouri, USA

External links

• Official site (German)
• Theater am Ziegelbrand (German)