After a devastating town fire in 1805, the destroyed part of Belecke was laid out with wide streets crossing each other at right angles, according to the instructions of the Hessian government of that time. The half-timbered houses were built uniformly with the transverse side facing the courtyard and the gable side facing the street.
With the so-called "Belecke Storm Day" on the Wednesday before Whitsun, the citizens commemorate every year a victorious battle against the enemy Soest. In 1444, the latter had broken away from the Archbishop of Cologne as sovereign, while the town of Belecke stood loyal to the Electorate of Cologne. With a lot of courage and with the help of beehives thrown over the city wall at the Soest people, the attackers were put to flight. Mayor Goar Wilke lost his life in this battle on May 17, 1448 - it was the Wednesday before Pentecost. The "Belecke National Holiday", which has been traditional for 500 years, begins the evening before with the hourly song of the Belecke night watchmen's guild. The next morning the storm day cannoneers start with the traditional firecracker and at the same time ask for a donation to the hearty cannoniers' breakfast. In the evening, citizens and guests gather for the Sturmtag celebration.
Particularly worth seeing are the bronze statue of the Milkerin, Stütingsmühle and the town museum Schatzkammer Propstei. From here, it's worth walking down a path to Stütings Mill, built in 1307, which still supplies electricity today.
Tip: Book a guided tour with the Belecke night watchmen or city guides.