Online-Card - Höxter

Höxter – In the heart of the Weser mountain region The district town of Höxter, with its historical old town, 12 lovingly looked after villages, in the valley of the Weser river and in the wooded hills of the Weser mountain region, is not only a popular tourist region. Wide ranging attractive retail businesses, varied service sector businesses, ranging from public health systems to all branches of crafts, public authorities and the army, university buildings and outward looking small and medium sized businesses characterise the appearance of this town. Moreover, in the last few years Höxter has developed into an intersection for tourists on cycling holidays, as the national cycle paths R1 (Netherlands-Münster-Höxter-Straßfurt) and the R99 from Hann. Münden to Bremerhaven meet in Höxter. The national cycle paths are complemented by a well developed network in the district of Höxter as well as in the local area. The sports complex of Höxter-Godelheim lies directly on the R99 cycle path. In an attractive location of the Weser the town of Höxter has built a public sports complex between the town centre and the village of Godelheim like a pearl necklace of shingle. With an expanse of water of approximately 70 hectares, a beach with gently sloping shores and many other attractions it is a popular centre of attraction for locals and visitors to the region. Höxter can look back at over 1175 years of history. As a result it is considered one of the oldest towns in Northern Germany. An extensive area, which was not liable to flooding, in the low lying areas of the Weser and near the already constructed ford was favoured for the construction of a settlement. An important trade route, the Westphalian Hellweg led across the ford, and this trade route crossed the Weser at Höxter. By 800 a missionary church dedicated to St. Kilian already existed.

The town of Höxter, together with the establishment of the imperial abbey of Corvey nearby entered the light of the written texts. Emperor Ludwig the Pious acquired the then existing villa hucxori, and in 833 transferred together with the marca hucxori to the monastery. In the meantime Corvey became the most significant abbey in North Germany. In 833 Corvey received the oldest coin privilege east of the Rhine. As a result of this coin privilege a market to enable the movement of goods was established. According to new research this market was located on the ford in Höxter. The development of Höxter is closely linked to the importance of the Westphalian Hellweg which were long distance trade routes which connected Aachen and the Rhine-Maas area with the silver mines in Goslar and Magdeburg. The first bridge which was the first permanent crossing over the Weser was built in 1115. Goods which were transported into the town via the Hellweg were sold in Höxter’s market place. In the early 12th century Höxter’s substantial development was linked with a last spiritual height of the imperial abbey in Corvey. In 1152 the first town fortification was built. With the enlargement of the settlement came the development of a local self government. In 1206 the existence of lay judges was recorded. In 1224 Höxter minted its first coins and in 1235 Höxter was granted its first council. Around 1250 Höxter’s council and community took over the town charter from Dortmund. At about the same time, instead of an older predecessor building, which can be considered as the covered market place, the town hall was established on the bridge market. The political organisation of the community was determined by few professional groups. In 1314 the election regulations of the council of Höxter considered tapestry makers, furriers, weavers, shoe makers, bakers, butchers and blacksmiths as politically privileged guilds who could elect the council.

Since the 13th century the citizens succeeded in freeing themselves from the sovereignty of the abbot of Corvey. At the same time, the general economic conditions changed considerably, since the Hellweg road via Höxter lost in importance because of new bridging villages with increased importance. The town itself was turned into a regional market town, which supported the villages in the region from a place where goods from long distances were traded. In 1533 the citizens began to support the reformation, while the abbot of Corvey and the surrounding villages remained catholic. Numerous splendid half-timbered buildings of the Weser renaissance period which still characterise the appearance of Höxter today were built during this period of spiritual reorientation and far reaching local autonomy. Being a major bridging town Höxter was occupied or conquered during the 30 years war by all of the major powers. The so called ‘Bloodbath of Höxter’ occurred in 1634 and 1500 inhabitants were victims and formed the sad highlight of the war. In 1673 French troops destroyed the bridge across the Weser, which could not be rebuilt until the 19th century. By 1803 Höxter was the capital of the territory of the immediate imperial abbey of Corvey. After the dissolution of the spiritual principality Höxter fell under Nassau – Oranian rule and at around 1809 it was added to the newly formed Kingdom of Westphalia under Napoleon’s brother Jerome. At the Conference of Vienna the former principality of Corvey along with Höxter was awarded to the Kingdom of Prussia. Höxter became the district town of the district of the same name.

In the middle of the previous century new trade and industrial areas were established. For the first time the development broke out of the medieval town wall. At the same time along with the König Wilhelm Grammar School the first Prussian school of architecture, from which the current university emerged, were established as national educational institutions. With approximately 35,000 inhabitants the district of Höxter was created in 1970 through the merger of the district of Bruchhausen along with the town centre and surrounding villages of the district of Höxter. Nowadays Höxter is an important centre of the Upper Weser region as well as being the district town of the district of the same name and a university campus. Höxter maintains partnerships with the French town of Corbie on the Somme and with the English town of Sudbury. Regular reciprocal visits between the towns have led to a deep friendship between the towns developing. Following the local elections in 2004 the district council is made up as follows: CDU (Christian Democratic Party) 23 seats SPD (Social Democratic Party) 12 seats UWG (independent election group) 4 seats Bündnis/die Grünen (The Green Party) 3 seats FDP (Free Democratic Party) 2 seats. Herman Hecker (CDU) was re-elected as mayor. Further information on the town of Höxter can be found on the internet at www.hoexter.de Translation: Paul McGrath / Ludger Haferkemper