ヴァールシュタインの洞窟・トップ13

The striking 14th-century Witch Tower is one of the most impressive relics of Rüthen's medieval town fortifications. Despite its name, it did not serve as a site for witch trials, but rather as a prison tower for common criminals for centuries. Today, it houses a compelling exhibition on the history of witch persecution in the Sauerland region – a topic that has particularly shaped Rüthen, as more than one hundred people fell victim to the Inquisition here. The exhibition displays replicas of historical interrogation instruments, highlights individual fates such as that of Grete Eickhoff, and commemorates Friedrich Spee and Michael Stapirus, who spoke out against these cruel practices early on, with a bronze relief. The tower thus combines authentic architecture, regional history, and a poignant reminder to create a truly impressive visitor destination. https://www.nrw-stiftung.de/entdecken/foerderprojekte/hexenturm-ruethen.html

Scenic tour in colorful autumn in a historical setting

You almost feel like you're back in time and you feel sorry for the innocent victims.

Witch Tower History The Witch Tower stands on the town wall of Rüthen, the only defensive tower on the town fortifications of Rüthen that has been completely preserved to this day. The Witch Tower contains a witch exhibition that can be visited as part of a city tour. In the 17th century, alleged sorcerers and witches were imprisoned, tortured, convicted and beheaded in this tower. A total of 167 people are said to have been innocently convicted. Rüthen was the first town in North Rhine-Westphalia to rehabilitate these innocents; a bronze relief by Bert Gerresheim on the tower commemorates them.

Gevelinghausen Castle was first mentioned in documents in 1299. Baron von Wendt-Papenhausen acquired the castle in 1796. The poet Annette von Droste-Hülshoff stayed as a guest in the castle in 1824 and 1831. In 1985 the property was sold by the von Wendt family for economic reasons. from: http://www.schloss-gevelinghausen.de/wellness/index.html

There are delicious waffles here at the city wall Trödel.

There is the following explanation for the distinctive window shutters: "In this context, the house colors should also be pointed out, which still adorn the shutters on the buildings of the former manor complex today. They go back to the von Wendt-Papenhausen family, whose coat of arms had a golden background, which is often replaced by yellow in heraldry. The three balaclavas or balaclavas in the coat of arms are blue.” from: https://gevelinghausen.de/das-wappen/

In 1299 Gevelinghausen Castle was first mentioned in a document. In 1796 Baron von Wendt-Papenhausen acquired the castle. The poetess Annette von Droste-Hülshoff stayed in the castle as a guest in 1824 and 1831. In 1985 the property was sold by the von Wendt family for financial reasons. from: http://www.schloss-gevelinghausen.de/wellness/index.html