Rüthen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

🇩🇪 Rüthen is a town in the district of Soest, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

History The city of Rüthen was first mentioned in a document of the Kloster Grafschaft (abbey earldom) in 1072. The area around Rüthen already belonged to the Erzbistum Köln (archbishopric Cologne) in the High Middle Ages. On 29 September 1200 Rüthen was given town law by the sovereign, the archbishop of Cologne Adolf I. von Altena. Starting in 1375 Rüthen belonged to the Hanse, an economic alliance of trading cities and their guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe in the later Middle Ages. The merchants of the city had far reaching business connections and because of that were able to ensure wealth. In the following centuries, however, the importance of Rüthen decreased massively.

Like many other cities in the duchy of Westfalen, Rüthen held witch trials. From 1573 to 1660, 104 people were tried as witches and wizards, at least 79 being sentenced to death. Freunnd Happen, who had been accused of being a sorcerer, was discharged after two months of torture on 23 September 1660.

Geography Rüthen is situated at the north-eastern border of the natural preserve Arnsberger Wald between the Haarstrang and the valley of the river Möhne, approx. 20 km south of Lippstadt and 35 km (22 mi) south-west of Paderborn. The highest point is the Wehberg with a height of 528.9 metres (1,735 ft), the lowest point the valley of the river Pöppelsche at 130 metres (430 ft). With an area of more than 310 square km (120 sq mi) it is the largest town within the district of Soest.

Neighbouring municipalities • Anröchte • Bestwig • Brilon • Büren • Erwitte • Geseke • Lippstadt • Olsberg • Warstein.

Division of the town Today Rüthen is the commune largest in area in the district of Soest with an area of 158 square km (61 sq mi). After the local government reforms of 1975 Rüthen consists of the following 15 districts: • Rüthen (5,360 inhabitants) • Altenrüthen (550 inhabitants) • Drewer (780 inhabitants) • Hemmern (170 inhabitants) • Hoinkhausen (170 inhabitants) • Kallenhardt (1,810 inhabitants) • Kellinghausen (90 inhabitants) • Kneblinghausen (310 inhabitants) • Langenstraße-Heddinghausen (460 inhabitants) • Meiste (410 inhabitants) • Menzel (426 inhabitants) • Nettelstädt (111 inhabitants) • Oestereiden (870 inhabitants) • Weickede (25 inhabitants) • Westereiden (530 inhabitants).