Detmold () is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with a population of . It was the capital of the small

Principality of Lippe Lippe (later Lippe-Detmold and then again Lippe) was a historical state in Germany, ruled by the House of Lippe. It was located between the Weser river and the southeast part of the Teutoburg Forest. It was founded in the 1640s under a separa ...

from 1468 until 1918 and then of the Free State of Lippe until 1947. Today it is the administrative center of the district of Lippe and of the

Regierungsbezirk Detmold Detmold () is one of the five of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the north-east of the state. It is congruent with region of Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL, East Westphalia–Lippe). The Regierungsbezirk was created in 1947 when the former ...

. The

Church of Lippe The Church of Lippe (german: link=no, Lippische Landeskirche) is a Reformed (Calvinist) member church of the Evangelical Church in Germany that covers what used to be the Principality of Lippe. Seat of the church administration is Detmold. The pr ...

has its central administration located in Detmold. The

Reformed Reform is beneficial change Reform may also refer to: Media * ''Reform'' (album), a 2011 album by Jane Zhang * Reform (band), a Swedish jazz fusion group * ''Reform'' (magazine), a Christian magazine *''Reforme'' ("Reforms"), initial name of the ...

Redeemer Church is the preaching venue of the state superintendent of the Lippe church.

History

Iron Age

About to the southwest of Detmold is the hill with a prehistoric circular rampart and the Hermann monument (german: Hermannsdenkmal). The monument commemorates the so-called Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, a battle in 9 AD which may or may not have been fought close to the present location of Detmold. In this encounter, Germanic tribes led by Hermann ( la,

Arminius Arminius ( 18/17 BC – 21 AD) was a chieftain of the Germanic Cherusci tribe who is best known for commanding an alliance of Germanic tribes at the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in 9 AD, in which three Roman legions under the command of ge ...

) defeated Roman legions under the command of

Publius Quinctilius Varus Publius Quinctilius Varus (Cremona, 46 BC – Teutoburg Forest, AD 9) was a Roman general and politician under the first Roman emperor Augustus. Varus is generally remembered for having lost three Roman legions when ambushed by Germanic tribes l ...

Middle Ages

Detmold was first mentioned as ''Theotmalli'' in 783, the year of a battle between the Saxons and Charlemagne's forces nearby. This was an event in the

Saxon Wars The Saxon Wars were the campaigns and insurrections of the thirty-three years from 772, when Charlemagne first entered Saxony with the intent to conquer, to 804, when the last rebellion of tribesmen was defeated. In all, 18 campaigns were fought ...

. In 1005 a Tietmelli or Theotmalli region (''Gau'') is referred to in documents. In 1263,

Bernard III of Lippe Bernard III, Lord of Lippe () was a German nobleman. He was the ruling Lord of Lippe from 1229 until his death. Life Bernard III was the son of Lord Herman II and his wife, Oda of Tecklenburg. His father fell in battle in 1229, and Bernar ...

fortified the settlement at the crossing of the trade route from Paderborn to Lemgo over the Werre River with stone walls and granted it a municipal charter. Its population was reported in 1305 as 305. Market rights granted in 1265 led to rapid economic development. Its defenses were greatly strengthened after severe damage had been inflicted on the town during the conflict with Soest in 1447. A major fire in 1547 destroyed more than 70 houses. In 1550, Detmold became the permanent residence of Count Simon III of Lippe. The counts were elevated to princes in 1789, and Detmold remained the capital of the small

until the end of the World War I in 1918, when all princely states in Germany were abolished. Today,

Stephan, Prince of Lippe Stephan, Prince of Lippe (''Stephan Leopold Justus Richard Prinz zur Lippe'') was born on 24 May 1959 in Detmold, Germany. He is the son of Armin, Prince of Lippe and Traute Becker, and the current head of the House of Lippe since 2015. His trad ...

is the owner of Detmold Castle.

Modern era

Street lighting was introduced in 1809, with oil-fired lanterns. By 1835, the town had become the most populous in Lippe, with over 4,000 residents. It grew to 12,000 in 1900 and over 30,000 in 1950. From 1919 to 1947, Detmold was the capital of the Free State of Lippe. When Lippe was incorporated into the new German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, the town became the seat of the Lippe district, and since 1972 it has been the seat of the district administration of Lippe. With the administrative reform of 1970, 25 nearby villages were incorporated into the city. The former Hobart Barracks is nearby.

Main sights

* (falconry) * Donoper Teich (pond) * Externsteine * Fürstliches Residenzschloß, a Renaissance castle in the center of the town park * Hasselbachteich (pond) * Hermannsdenkmal (

monument) * Hochschule für Musik Detmold (Music Academy of Detmold) *

OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts The Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe (abbreviated: TH OWL, English: OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts) is a state tech university in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe area in Lemgo, which is part of North Rhine-Westphalia. Additional ca ...

(Technische Hochschule OWL) * Landestheater Detmold,

Detmolder Sommertheater Detmolder Sommertheater is a theatre in Detmold, North Rhine-Westphalia North Rhine-Westphalia (german: Nordrhein-Westfalen, ; li, Noordrien-Wesfale ; nds, Noordrhien-Westfalen; ksh, Noodrhing-Wäßßfaale), commonly shortened to NRW () ...

* Lippisches Landesmuseum (museum) * LWL-Freilichtmuseum Detmold (

Detmold open-air museum The Detmold Open-air Museum (german: LWL-Freilichtmuseum Detmold – Westfälisches Landesmuseum für Volkskunde, link=no; English: "LWL Open-air Museum Detmold – Westphalian State Museum for Folkloristics") is a museum at Detmold in the Ostw ...

) * * Vogelpark Heiligenkirchen (bird sanctuary) File:Hiddeser Bent.JPG, Hiddeser Bent, moor near Donoper Teich File:TH OWL in Detmold.jpg, Campus of the

(2019) File:Hermannsdenkmal 2015.jpg, Hermannsdenkmal File:Markt mit Rathaus.jpg, Market and town hall

Culture

The town supports the

Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie The Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie (North West German Philharmonic) is a German orchestra, symphony orchestra based in Herford. It was founded in 1950 and, along with Philharmonie Südwestfalen and Landesjugendorchester NRW, is one of the 'official ...

for regular symphony concerts.

Schools

* , founded 1602 *

Stadtgymnasium Detmold Stadtgymnasium Detmold is a '' Gymnasium'' (grammar school) in Detmold in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Founded in 1830, Stadtgymnasium Detmold is the second oldest ''Gymnasium'' in Detmold. History In March 1830, General Super ...

, founded 1830 * Christian-Dietrich-Grabbe-Gymnasium, founded 1925

Twin towns – sister cities

Detmold is twinned with: *

Hasselt Hasselt (, , ; la, Hasseletum, Hasselatum) is a Belgian city and municipality, and capital and largest city of the province of Limburg in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is known for its former branding as "the city of taste", as well as its ...

, Belgium * Saint-Omer, France * Savonlinna, Finland * Zeitz, Germany * Oraiokastro, Greece

Notable people

Moritz Daniel Oppenheim Portrait Leopold Zunz

Notable people born in Detmold include: * Friedrich Adolph Lampe (1683–1729), theologian * Simon August, Count of Lippe-Detmold (1727–1782), Count of Lippe *

Leopold I, Prince of Lippe Leopold I of Lippe (2 December 1767 – 5 November 1802) was a Prince of Principality of Lippe, Lippe. Biography Leopold I was born in Detmold the son of Simon August, Count of Lippe-Detmold (1727–1782), and his second wife, Princess Leopoldine ...

(1767–1802), Prince of Lippe *

Leopold Zunz Leopold Zunz ( he, יום טוב צונץ—''Yom Tov Tzuntz'', yi, ליפמן צונץ—''Lipmann Zunz''; 10 August 1794 – 17 March 1886) was the founder of academic Judaic Studies (''Wissenschaft des Judentums''), the critical investigation ...

(1794–1886), scientist, founder of Reform Judaism * Leopold II, Prince of Lippe (1796–1851), Prince of Lippe *

Christian Dietrich Grabbe Christian Dietrich Grabbe (11 December 1801 – 12 September 1836) was a German dramatist of the ''Vormärz'' era. He wrote many historical plays conceiving a disillusioned and pessimistic world view, with some shrill scenes. Heinrich Heine ...

(1801–1836), alongside Georg Büchner the most important innovator of German-language drama in his time *

Ferdinand Freiligrath Ferdinand Freiligrath (17 June 1810 – 18 March 1876) was a German poet, translator and liberal agitator, who is considered part of the Young Germany movement. Life Freiligrath was born in Detmold, Principality of Lippe. His father was a teacher. ...

(1810–1876), poet and author * Leopold III, Prince of Lippe (1821–1875), Prince of Lippe *

Ferdinand Weerth Ferdinand Weerth (1 June 1774 in Gemarke – 18 October 1836 in Detmold) was a German pastor and school-reformer in the Principality of Lippe. Between 1805 and 1836 he officiated as the general superintendent (spiritual leader) of the Refo ...

(1774–1836), Pastor and School Reformer *

Georg Weerth Georg Ludwig Weerth (17 February 1822 – 30 July 1856) was a German writer and poet. Weerth's poems celebrated the solidarity of the working class in its fight for liberation from exploitation and oppression. He was a friend and companio ...

(1822–1856) *

Gustav Wallis Gustav Wallis (1 May 1830 – 20 June 1878) was a German plant collector who introduced over 1,000 plant species to Europe, many of which were named after him. He was particularly focused on orchid hunting during the Victorian orchid craze, but ...

(1830–1878), botanist and South American traveler * (1879–1966), actor, spieler, elocutionist, singer and regional poet *

Jürgen Stroop Jürgen Stroop (born Josef Stroop, 26 September 1895 – 6 March 1952) was a German SS commander during the Nazi era, who served as SS and Police Leader in occupied Poland and Greece. He led the suppression of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 194 ...

(1895–1952), Nazi general of the SS, executed for war crimes * Werner Buchholz (1922–2019), engineer, creator of the art word byte *

Manfred Fuhrmann Manfred Fuhrmann (23 June 1925 – 12 January 2005) was a professor for classical Latin philology and one of the most eminent German philologists. Life Fuhrmann was born on 23 June 1925 in Hiddesen (near Detmold). He started his studies in Leiden ...

(1925–2005), old philologist *

Hans-Ulrich Schmincke Hans-Ulrich Schmincke (born 21 October 1937) is a notable German volcanologist. Formation Hans-Ulrich Schmincke studied between 1957 and 1964 geology and petrology at different universities in Germany and the USA: Universität Göttingen, A ...

(born 1937), volcanologist * Heinz Burt (1942–2000), British musician and member of The Tornados *

Hartmut Fladt Hartmut Fladt (born 7 November 1945) is a German composer and musicologist. Life Born in Detmold, Fladt studied composition with Rudolf Kelterborn in his hometown and musicology with Carl Dahlhaus in Berlin. Since 1981 he has been professo ...

(1945), musicologist * (born 1946), art historian, for 11 years curator of the German Historical Museum in Berlin * Iris Berben (born 1950), actress *

Peter Lampe Peter Lampe (born 28 January 1954) is a German Protestant theologian and chaired Professor of New Testament Studies/History of Early Christianity at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. Life After studies in theology, philosophy and archaeo ...

(born 1954), theologian *

Detlef Grumbach Detlef Grumbach (born 1955 in Detmold) is a German author and journalist. Life After school Grumbach worked as a journalist. Topics of his works are literary critic, LGBT, Human sexuality, sexuality, AIDS and events in life of people. Grumbach wr ...

(born 1955), journalist, journalist, author and publisher * Frank-Walter Steinmeier (born 1956), foreign minister, Vice Chancellor, and current President of GermanyJudy Dempsey (October 17, 2005)
A promotion to cabinet for Schröder's top aide
'' The New York Times''. *

Manfred Ostermann Manfred Ostermann (born 1958) is a German local politician and an independent. In 2007 he was elected as the chief executive (''Landrat'') of the district of Soltau-Fallingbostel for an initial term of 8 years. Life Ostermann was born on 30 Apri ...

(born 1958), local politician (independent) and former ''Landrat'' of Soltau-Fallingbostel *

Andreas Voßkuhle Andreas Voßkuhle (born 21 December 1963) is a German legal scholar who served as the president of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany from 2010 until 2020. Early life and education Voßkuhle was born and grew up in the small Western Germ ...

(born 1963), jurist, president of the Bundesverfassungsgericht * Ludger Beerbaum (born 1963), jumping rider * Wotan Wilke Möhring (born 1967), actor *

Matthias Opdenhövel Matthias Augustinus Wilhelm Georg Opdenhövel (born 25 August 1970) is a German television presenter. Biography Born in Detmold, Opdenhövel has worked as journalist and television presenter for German broadcasters ARD, Sat 1, Pro7, VIVA G ...

(born 1970), television presenter and journalist *

Sven Montgomery Sven Montgomery (born 10 May 1976) is a former Swiss professional cyclist. Career Early on, Montgomery was considered to be a very promising rider. He turned professional in 1998 with the , with his career lasting until 2006. Throughout his caree ...

(born 1976), Swiss-American cyclist *

Vera Ludwig Vera Ludwig (born 5 May 1978, in Detmold) is a German poet. Life and work Vera Julia Ludwig was born in Detmold in North Rhine-Westphalia in 1978. After finishing school with the Abitur at Christian-Dietrich-Grabbe-Gymnasium in 1997 she studied ...

(born 1978), poet *

Tujamo Matthias Richter (; born 18 January 1988 in Detmold, North Rhine-Westphalia), better known by his stage name Tujamo, is a German electro house music producer and DJ. Tujamo, along with Plastik Funk and Sneakbo, released the single " Dr. Who!", whi ...

(born 1988), DJ and record producer *

Stefan Langemann Stefan Langemann (born 11 July 1990) is a German footballer who plays for FC Preußen Espelkamp. External links * 1990 births Living people German men's footballers Sportfreunde Lotte players Arminia Bielefeld players 3. Liga players S ...

(born 1990), footballer A Duncan nach JH Schramm - Albert Lortzing (Stahlstich)

Long-time residents of Detmold include: * Albert Lortzing (1801–1851), composer *

Johannes Brahms Johannes Brahms (; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, pianist, and conductor of the mid- Romantic period. Born in Hamburg into a Lutheran family, he spent much of his professional life in Vienna. He is sometimes grouped wit ...

(1833–1897), composer, lived in Detmold in the winters of 1857–60 * Heinrich Drake (1881–1970), politician *

Felix Fechenbach Felix Fechenbach (28 January 1894 – 7 August 1933) was a German journalist, poet and political activist. He served as State-Secretary in the government of Kurt Eisner that overthrew the Bavarian Wittelsbach Monarchy. After its overthrow, he wor ...

(1894–1933), journalist *

Florian Reike Florian Reike is a German entrepreneur who works with cryptocurrency. He is one of the co-founders of nakamo.to and head of research at the Advanced Blockchain AG. Life Reike grew up in Detmold, Nordrhein-Westfalen. He studied economics at th ...

, entrepreneur *

Giselher Klebe Giselher Wolfgang Klebe (28 June 19255 October 2009) was a German composer, and an academic teacher. He composed more than 140 works, among them 14 operas, all based on literary works, eight symphonies, 15 solo concerts, chamber music, piano w ...

(1925–2009), composer * Thomas Quasthoff (born 1959), bass-baritone *

Suzanne Bernert Suzanne Bernert (born 26 September), is a German-born Indian actress living in India who works primarily in Indian films in various languages. She has acted in '' Ramdhanu - The Rainbow'', '' Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.'' and television serials ...

, German-born Indian actress Others: * Detmold child, a child mummy who got its name from this city. Amongst the honorary citizens of Detmold, besides politicians are scientists and artists who have served in Detmold. The best-known are the builder of the Hermannsdenkmal,

Ernst von Bandel Joseph Ernst von Bandel (17 May 1800, Ansbach – 25 September 1876, Neudegg, near Donauwörth) was a German architect, sculptor and painter. He is best known for his 38 years of work on the monumental ''Hermannsdenkmal'' near Detmold, honoring A ...

(1871), Reich Chancellor

Otto von Bismarck Otto, Prince of Bismarck, Count of Bismarck-Schönhausen, Duke of Lauenburg (, ; 1 April 1815 – 30 July 1898), born Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck, was a conservative German statesman and diplomat. From his origins in the upper class of J ...

(1895), and Reich President Paul von Hindenburg (1917).

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Lippe Principality of Lippe Towns in North Rhine-Westphalia