# Arnsberg > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Arnsberg > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Arnsberg.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnsberg > Source revision: 1345830625 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{About|the city in Germany}} {{multiple issues| {{cleanup|reason=Article is not in compliance with the [Manual of Style](/source/WP%3AMOS); layout/format|date=September 2011}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2016}} }} {{Infobox German location |name = Arnsberg |type = Stadt |image_photo = Arnsberg-Altstadt.jpg |imagesize = |image_caption = |image_flag = Flagge Arnsberg.svg |image_coa = Stadtwappen Arnsberg.svg |coordinates = {{coord|51|23|N|8|5|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} |image_plan = Arnsberg in HSK.svg |state = NRW |region = Arnsberg |district = Hochsauerlandkreis |elevation = 212 |area = 193.72 |postal_code = 59755, 59757, 59759, 59821, 59823 |area_code = 02931 Arnsberg
02932 Neheim-Hüsten
02935 Wennigloh
02937 Oeventrop |licence = HSK |Gemeindeschlüssel = 05 9 58 004 |divisions = 15 |website = [https://www.arnsberg.de/ www.arnsberg.de] |mayor = Ralf Paul Bittner[https://wahlen.kdvz.nrw/production/kw2025/05958004/praesentation/ergebnis.html?wahl_id=247&stimmentyp=0&id=ebene_3_id_43 Wahl des/der Bürgermeisters/in 14.09.2025 - Stadt Arnsberg], accessed 01 March 2026. |leader_term = 2025–30 |party = SPD }} right|thumb|Propsteikirche '''Arnsberg''' ({{IPA|de|ˈaʁnsbɛʁk|audio=Arnsberg.ogg}}; {{langx|wep|Arensperg}}) is a town in the [Hochsauerland](/source/Hochsauerland) county, in the German state of [North Rhine-Westphalia](/source/North_Rhine-Westphalia). It is the location of the [Regierungsbezirk](/source/Regierungsbezirk) [Arnsberg](/source/Arnsberg_(region)) administration and one of the three local administration offices of the [Hochsauerlandkreis district](/source/Hochsauerlandkreis). ==Geography== ===Location=== Arnsberg is located in the north-east of the [Sauerland](/source/Sauerland) in the [Ruhr](/source/Ruhr_(river)) river valley. The river Ruhr [meanders](/source/sinuosity) around the south of the old town of Arnsberg. The town is nearly completely encircled by forest, and the nature park ''[Arnsberger Wald](/source/Arnsberg_Forest_Nature_Park)'' lies to the north". Arnsberg is connected by [Federal Motorway 46](/source/Bundesautobahn_46) (Autobahn 46) [Brilon](/source/Brilon) in the east and (using the [Federal Motorway 445](/source/Bundesautobahn_445)) [Werl](/source/Werl) in the west. It is also connected by several railroad stations, which provide a connection to the major city [Dortmund](/source/Dortmund) and the [Ruhr](/source/Ruhr)gebiet. There is also a [regional airport](/source/Flugplatz_Arnsberg-Menden), located in the city district of Vosswinkel, which is exclusively used for small private aircraft. The municipal territory spans a distance of up to {{convert|13|km|mi}} from the southern to the northern limits.{{Cite web|title=(Stadt-)Geschichtliches|url=https://www.arnsberg.de/archiv/stadt-geschichtliches/index.php|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.arnsberg.de|archive-date=2021-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109111528/https://www.arnsberg.de/archiv/stadt-geschichtliches/index.php|url-status=dead}} ===Neighbouring municipalities=== * [Ense](/source/Ense) * [Möhnesee](/source/M%C3%B6hnesee) * [Warstein](/source/Warstein) * [Meschede](/source/Meschede) * [Sundern](/source/Sundern) * [Balve](/source/Balve) * [Menden](/source/Menden_(Sauerland)) ===Subdivisions=== After the local government reforms of 1975 Arnsberg consists of 15 boroughs (''Ortsteile''): * Neheim (23,448 inhabitants) * Arnsberg (19,355 inhabitants) * Hüsten (11,304 inhabitants) * Oeventrop (6,713 inhabitants) * Herdringen (4,118 inhabitants) * Bruchhausen (3,337 inhabitants) * [Müschede](/source/M%C3%BCschede) (2,870 inhabitants) * Voßwinkel (2,523 inhabitants) * Niedereimer (2,082 inhabitants) * Holzen (2,022 inhabitants) * Rumbeck (1,305 inhabitants) * Wennigloh (1,004 inhabitants) * Bachum (959 inhabitants) * Breitenbruch (219 inhabitants) * Uentrop (346 inhabitants) thumb|240px|Jewish cemetery ==History== === Beginnings === Arnsberg was first mentioned in 789 in the [Carolingian](/source/Carolingian_Empire) records ([Urbar](/source/Urbar%2C_Rhein-Hunsr%C3%BCck)) as belonging to the abbey of [Werden](/source/Werden_Abbey). Arnsberg was the seat of the {{ill|County of Arnsberg|lt=Counts of Arnsberg|de|Grafschaft Arnsberg}} from around 1070 and received city rights in 1238. In 1368 Gottfried IV, the last Count of Arnsberg, handed over the city and county to the [Electorate of Cologne](/source/Electorate_of_Cologne) as he had no heir,{{Cite web|title=(Stadt-)Geschichtliches|url=https://www.arnsberg.de/archiv/stadt-geschichtliches/index.php|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.arnsberg.de|archive-date=2021-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109111528/https://www.arnsberg.de/archiv/stadt-geschichtliches/index.php|url-status=dead}} wherafter it was incorporated into the [Duchy of Westphalia](/source/Duchy_of_Westphalia) (a possession of Cologne). They built [Arnsberg Castle](/source/Arnsberg_Castle) there, whose remains can still be visited and are occasionally used for public celebrations. In the 12th century, old Arnsberg became the seat of [Westphalia](/source/Westphalia)n jurisdiction (whose coat of arms is still used today by the [Hochsauerlandkreis](/source/Hochsauerlandkreis)). Later, the city lost its independence and was subject to the [Electors (Archbishops) of Cologne](/source/Archbishop_of_Cologne). === 18th/19th Century === [Arnsberg Castle](/source/Arnsberg_Castle) was reconstructed by [Johann Conrad Schlaun](/source/Johann_Conrad_Schlaun) as a residential palace and hunting lodge for Elector [Clemens August of Bavaria](/source/Clemens_August_of_Bavaria). It was destroyed in the [Seven Years' War](/source/Seven_Years'_War) in 1769. In 1794 the French attacked Cologne, so parts of the treasure of the [Cologne Cathedral](/source/Cologne_Cathedral) were brought to safety in Arnsberg, along with the relics of the [Biblical Magi](/source/Biblical_Magi). In 1804, the treasure was returned to Cologne, as commemorated by a plaque in the Propsteikirche. In 1816, Arnsberg came under [Prussia](/source/Prussia)n rule and was made a local administrative centre. === World War Two === Neheim and Hüsten were merged in 1941. During the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II), Arnsberg first suffered widespread destruction and catastrophic loss of lives when [RAF](/source/Royal_Air_Force) [Lancasters](/source/Avro_Lancaster) breached the dam of the [Möhne Reservoir](/source/M%C3%B6hne_Reservoir) in the night of the 16 to 17 May 1943 ([Operation Chastise](/source/Operation_Chastise)). The nearby Abbey Himmelpforten was completely washed away. Later, dozens of Arnsberg's citizens were killed in several British [air raids](/source/Strategic_bombing) aimed at destroying the railway [viaduct](/source/viaduct). The targets were finally destroyed on 19 March 1945 using a ['Grand Slam' bomb](/source/Grand_Slam_bomb).{{Cite book|last=Bühner|first=Werner|title=Bombs on Arnsberg 1940–1945, chronicle of the air raids in pictures and eyewitness reports|year=1995}} === Contemporary history === The current city of Arnsberg was created in 1975 by merging 12 surrounding municipalities (Bachum, Breitenbruch, Herdringen, Holzen, Müschede, Niedereimer, Oeventrop, Rumbeck, Uentrop, Voßwinkel and Wennigloh) into one city.{{Cite web|title=(Stadt-)Geschichtliches|url=https://www.arnsberg.de/archiv/stadt-geschichtliches/index.php|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.arnsberg.de|archive-date=2021-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109111528/https://www.arnsberg.de/archiv/stadt-geschichtliches/index.php|url-status=dead}} Old Arnsberg itself and Neheim-Hüsten are the two main urban areas, while the other parts are mainly rural areas. ==Demographics== ===Religion=== Arnsberg's population is mostly [Roman Catholic](/source/Roman_Catholic_Church). Arnsberg belongs to the [Archdiocese of Paderborn](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Paderborn). [Catholic churches](/source/Catholic_Church) include the "Propsteikirche" or the "Heilig-Kreuz Kirche" and the "Auferstehungskirche", which is a [Protestant church](/source/Protestantism). There is also a [New Apostolic](/source/New_Apostolic_Church) congregation.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}} In recent years Arnsberg's Muslim minority grew considerably.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}} The town has a mosque. The cemeteries are mostly Catholic but there is also a [Jewish](/source/Judaism) cemetery. ==Arts and culture== The [Kunstverein Arnsberg](/source/Kunstverein_Arnsberg) operates in Arnsberg. Founded in 1987 and devoted to [contemporary art](/source/contemporary_art), Kunstverein Arnsberg has presented solo exhibitions by artists including [Georg Baselitz](/source/Georg_Baselitz), [Thomas Ruff](/source/Thomas_Ruff), [Karin Sander](/source/Karin_Sander), [Dan Perjovschi](/source/Dan_Perjovschi), [Boris Mikhailov](/source/Boris_Mikhailov_(photographer)), [Gregor Schneider](/source/Gregor_Schneider), [Erwin Wurm](/source/Erwin_Wurm), the [Turner Prize](/source/Turner_Prize) winner [Susan Philipsz](/source/Susan_Philipsz) and the [Marcel Duchamp Prize](/source/Marcel_Duchamp_Prize) winner [Laurent Grasso](/source/Laurent_Grasso). ==Government== ===City arms=== The arms of the city depict a white eagle on a blue field. Earlier it was a white eagle on a red field, introduced in 1278 and as used by the counts of [Arnsberg](/source/County_of_Arnsberg) . In the 17th century the red was changed to blue, reflecting the [Bavaria](/source/Bavaria)n blue of the [House of Wittelsbach](/source/House_of_Wittelsbach). ===City council=== After the 2025 elections, the Arnsberg [city council](/source/Stadtrat) is composed as follows: {{election table}} ! colspan=2| Party ! Votes ! % ! +/- ! Seats ! +/- |- | bgcolor={{party color|Christian Democratic Union of Germany}}| | align=left| [Christian Democratic Union](/source/Christian_Democratic_Union_of_Germany) (CDU) | 12,051 | 36.6 | {{decrease}} 1.8 | 16 | {{decrease}} 4 |- | bgcolor={{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}}| | align=left| [Social Democratic Party](/source/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany) (SPD) | 11,450 | 34.8 | {{increase}} 6.6 | 16 | {{increase}} 1 |- | bgcolor={{party color|Alternative for Germany}}| | align=left| [Alternative for Germany](/source/Alternative_for_Germany) (AfD) | 4,065 | 12.4 | {{increase}} 8.2 | 6 | {{increase}} 4 |- | bgcolor={{party color|Alliance 90/The Greens}}| | align=left| [Alliance 90/The Greens](/source/Alliance_90%2FThe_Greens) (Grüne) | 2,697 | 8.2 | {{decrease}} 6.0 | 4 | {{decrease}} 3 |- | bgcolor={{party color|Free Democratic Party (Germany)}}| | align=left| [Free Democratic Party](/source/Free_Democratic_Party_(Germany)) (FDP) | 825 | 2.5 | {{decrease}} 4.3 | 1 | {{decrease}} 3 |- | bgcolor={{party color|Die PARTEI}}| | align=left| [The PARTY](/source/Die_PARTEI) (PARTEI) | 731 | 2.2 | {{decrease}} 1.4 | 1 | {{decrease}} 1 |- | bgcolor={{party color|Die Linke}}| | align=left| [The Left](/source/Die_Linke) (Linke) | 628 | 1.9 | {{decrease}} 0.3 | 1 | ±0 |- | bgcolor=#646464| | align=left| Sauerland Citizens' List (SBL) | 434 | 1.3 | {{decrease}} 0.9 | 1 | ±0 |- |- | colspan=7 bgcolor=lightgrey| |- | bgcolor={{party color|Independent}}| | align=left| Independent Daniela Wiesel | 13 | 0.0 | New | 0 | New |- ! colspan=2| Valid votes ! 32,894 ! 98.6 ! ! ! |- ! colspan=2| Invalid votes ! 472 ! 1.4 ! ! ! |- ! colspan=2| Total ! 33,366 ! 100.0 ! ! 46 ! {{decrease}} 6 |- ! colspan=2| Electorate/voter turnout ! 58,926 ! 56.6 ! ! ! |- | colspan=7| Source: [https://wahlen.kdvz.nrw/production/kw2025/05958004/praesentation/ergebnis.html?wahl_id=249&stimmentyp=0&id=ebene_3_id_43 City of Arnsberg] |} ===Mayors=== Mayors of the new town Arnsberg {|class="wikitable" |- !Years !! Mayor !! colspan=2 |Party |- |1975–1984:||Gerhard Teriet||style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}};"| ||[CDU](/source/Christian_Democratic_Union_of_Germany) |- |1984–1999:||Alex Paust||style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};"| ||[SPD](/source/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany) |- |1999–2017:||Hans-Josef Vogel||style="background:{{party color|CDU/CSU}};"| ||[CDU](/source/Christian_Democratic_Union_of_Germany) |- |2018–today:||Ralf Paul Bittner||style="background:{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Germany}};"| ||[SPD](/source/Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany) |} ==Twin towns – sister cities== {{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Germany}} Arnsberg is [twinned](/source/Sister_city) with:{{cite web|title=Partnerstädte|url=https://www.arnsberg.de/informationen/partnerstaedte.php|website=arnsberg.de|publisher=Arnsberg|language=de|access-date=2019-11-23|archive-date=2022-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508140547/http://www.arnsberg.de/informationen/partnerstaedte.php|url-status=dead}} *{{flagicon|ROU}} [Alba Iulia](/source/Alba_Iulia), Romania *{{flagicon|NED}} [Deventer](/source/Deventer), Netherlands *{{flagicon|ENG}} [Bexley](/source/London_Borough_of_Bexley), England, United Kingdom *{{flagicon|POL}} [Olesno](/source/Gmina_Olesno%2C_Opole_Voivodeship), Poland *{{flagicon|ITA}} [Caltagirone](/source/Caltagirone), Italy ==Notable people== {{alumni|residents|date=October 2024}} [[File:Fürstenberg.jpg|thumb|130px|Statue Franz von Fürstenberg in [Münster](/source/M%C3%BCnster)]] *[Franz von Fürstenberg](/source/Franz_von_F%C3%BCrstenberg) (1729–1810), statesman and reformer school in Archbishopric Münster, founder of the [Münster University](/source/University_of_M%C3%BCnster) *[Wilhelm Hasenclever](/source/Wilhelm_Hasenclever), (1837–1889), politician *{{annotated link|Noah Wolff}} *[Karl Brüggemann](/source/Karl_Br%C3%BCggemann) (1896–1977), honorary district in Kreis Arnsberg from 1961 to 1969 *[Franz Stock](/source/Franz_Stock) (1904–1948), since 1934 pastor of the German Catholic community in Paris, during the German occupation chaplain for French prisoners (companion sentenced to death), 1945 head of a prisoner of war seminar in Chartres *[Hans Bernd Gisevius](/source/Hans_Bernd_Gisevius), (1904–1974), diplomat *[Fritz Cremer](/source/Fritz_Cremer), (1906–1993), artist *[Betsy von Furstenberg](/source/Betsy_von_Furstenberg), (1931–2015), actress *[Günter Wewel](/source/G%C3%BCnter_Wewel), (1934–2023), operatic bass and television presenter *[Franz Müntefering](/source/Franz_M%C3%BCntefering), (born 1940), politician (SPD) *[Mike de Vries](/source/Mike_de_Vries), (born 1958), brand and business manager *[Andrea Fischer](/source/Andrea_Fischer) (born 1960), politician ([Alliance 90/The Greens](/source/Alliance_90%2FThe_Greens)) and journalist, former Federal Minister of Health *[Meinolf Finke](/source/Meinolf_Finke), (born 1963), poet *[Jens Beckmann](/source/Jens_Beckmann) (born 1970), scientist *[Helena Fromm](/source/Helena_Fromm) (born 1987), [taekwondo](/source/taekwondo) athlete, [Olympic medalist](/source/2012_Summer_Olympics) *[Georg Poplutz](/source/Georg_Poplutz), tenor ===People related to Arnsberg=== thumb|160px|Buchenwald memorial *[Paul Moder](/source/Paul_Moder) (1896–1942), politician (NSDAP), Freikorps member and SS officer *[Walther Neye](/source/Walther_Neye) (1901–1989), jurist and rector of the Humboldt University in Berlin *[Fritz Cremer](/source/Fritz_Cremer) (1906–1993), sculptor ([Buchenwald Memorial](/source/Buchenwald)) *[Lothar Collatz](/source/Lothar_Collatz) (1910–1990), mathematician *[Günter Keute](/source/G%C3%BCnter_Keute) (born 1955), footballer *[Friedrich Merz](/source/Friedrich_Merz) (born 1955), attorney and politician, member of the [CDU](/source/CDU%2FCSU) *[Meinolf Finke](/source/Meinolf_Finke) (born 1963), poet *[Stephan Kampwirth](/source/Stephan_Kampwirth) (born 1967), theatre actor, film actor and voice actor *[Rouven Schröder](/source/Rouven_Schr%C3%B6der) (born 1975), footballer *[Philipp Hofmann](/source/Philipp_Hofmann) (born 1993), footballer ==Gallery== Arnsberg Stadtansicht 01 2011.jpg|Arnsberg Glockenturm2-2.JPG|Glockenturm (Bell tower) Marienhospital-arnsberg.jpg|Marienhospital (hospital) Arnsberg-Panorama 2024.jpg|View of Arnsberg from the Ehmsen-Memorial ==See also== * [Herdringen Castle](/source/Herdringen_Castle) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Arnsberg}} * [https://www.arnsberg.de/ Official website] {{in lang|de}} * [http://www.kunstverein-arnsberg.de Kunstverein Arnsberg] *[http://webgerman.com/Notgeld/Directory/N/Neheim.htm Neheim Notgeld] (emergency currency) {{Cities and towns in Hochsauerland (district)}} {{Authority control}} Category:Arnsberg Category:Towns in North Rhine-Westphalia Category:Hochsauerlandkreis Category:Members of the Hanseatic League --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Arnsberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnsberg) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnsberg?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.