WaldKulTour Südwestfalen - border towns

In the middle of the Arnsberg Forest, small towns and settlements tell exciting stories from a time when borders were fiercely contested. Many of these places were once built for strategic reasons: They were intended to secure territories, consolidate claims to power and serve as protection in the event of conflict. They were often founded far away from existing villages - and were dependent on nature to survive from the outset.

One particular example of this is the small town of Eversberg, idyllically situated in the forest with its picturesque half-timbered houses. It was granted town privileges by Count Gottfried III back in the Middle Ages. At the time, its fortifications protected the border of the Grafschaft Arnsberg from the Archbishopric of Cologne. However, it was not only military reasons that played a role: the foundation was also intended to promote the economic use of the forest.

Due to the remote location, the inhabitants learned early on to live with the resources of the forest. This gave rise to numerous trades and industries. Even today, old field names remind us of this time: they tell of charcoal burning, ash distilling, ore mining as well as flax and hop cultivation. The use of the forest floor as fertilizer and bedding for the stables has also left its mark here.

When Count Gottfried IV was left without descendants in 1368, he sold the Grafschaft Arnsberg to the Archbishop of Cologne. Eversberg lost its border position, the castle fell into disrepair and a chapter of history came to an end. But the traces of this eventful past are still visible today - and make the hike on the WaldKulTour Border Towns a fascinating journey through nature and history.