The best city hikes and walks in Nsg Eselsbruch / Harlebachsystem

The Protestant City Church in Brilon is a listed church building, constructed in 1855/1856 by the architect F. A. Ritter according to a design by the Berlin architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel for the Prussian Standard Church. In 2022, the church tower had to be completely demolished due to significant structural damage and contamination. Demolition began in September 2022. A new west portal is planned for the church building in place of the tower. A new, freestanding bell tower is also planned for the church. Source: wikipedia.org

The Rothaarsteig begins on the market square in Brilon (0 km) and is one of the "premium hiking trails" in the Sauerland. It is becoming increasingly popular as a "path of the senses". The 154 km long hiking trail first leads past the spa gardens and finally through the Rothaar Mountains over the Kahler Asten, the second highest mountain in NRW at 841 meters above sea level, to Dillenburg in Hesse. The Langenberg is the highest mountain in NRW (only 1.30 meters higher than the Kahler Asten) and is also on the Rothaarsteig between Olsberg-Bruchhausen and Willingen. (Source lwl.org)

WORKS BY THEODOR SPRENGER The history fountain was designed by the sculptor and painter Theodor Sprenger (+2003) from Madfeld. He also designed the Europe fountain (1980s) at the old tax office, the farmer's wife at the Mistemarkt, the donkey Huberta with his guide Theodor Isenberg in Königstrasse and the man sitting on the bench with Lümmel (dog) in Bahnhofstrasse. Lümmel was the name of Sprenger's dog, who served as his model for this work of art. (Source: Ulrich Trommer from December 29, 2023 on "brilon-totallokal.de")

TRADITION To conclude the Briloner Schnade, the Schnadezug (traditional procession) festively enters the town to the ringing of all church bells, and traditionally the procession circles the Kump 3 times. (Source: Haus Hövener)

HISTORICAL At this spot, the market fountain, also called Kump, used to be located. It was first mentioned in a document in 1360 and was the central point of the water supply. The fountain basin was the endpoint of a water pipe made of drilled oak logs. The pipe, laid in the ground, carried water over a distance of about 2 kilometers from a spring on the Poppenberg to the market square. The city had specifically hired a "Kumpmeister" (fountain master) whose job it was to maintain the water pipe. Even in dry periods, when other springs and wells in the city dried up, the population could get drinking water here. (Source: wikipedia + Museum Haus Hövener) According to an official report, the fountain was the only source of drinking water in the city until 1819, supplied with natural spring water in abundant quantities and with natural pressure. Outside of dry periods, the water flowed so abundantly that livestock could also be watered with the overflow. In the first half of the 19th century, various iron water pipes were laid from the Kump to improve the water supply. In the second half of the 19th century, these were gradually replaced by more modern water supply systems and, consequently, also by sewage systems. (Source: wikipedia)

DESCRIPTION OF THE FOUNTAIN The Petrusbrunnen stands in the center of the market square. The fountain basin was renewed in 1726 and consists of 23 slabs of Rüthen sandstone. The remnants of coat of arms depictions can still be recognized on them. These are the family coats of arms of long-established Brilon citizen families who were particularly committed to the maintenance and care of the fountain. In the middle of the fountain basin, on a multi-tiered column, stands the life-size statue of the Apostle Peter, the patron saint of Brilon. The figure dates from a predecessor fountain from the first half of the 16th century and was created during the reign of the Cologne Elector Hermann von Wied (1515-1546). The coat of arms on the statue refers to this territorial lord. It directs its gaze towards the historic town hall and the provost church. (Source: wikipedia + Haus Hövener)

DESCRIPTION The history fountain is located right behind the town hall and was created by the sculptor and painter Theodor Sprenger from Madfeld. 1.The edge of the fountain is decorated with the coats of arms of the places that have belonged to Brilon since 1975. A plaque with a north arrow and a height of 455 meters can also be seen here. Inside the fountain is a bronze sculpture consisting of a ball and a high column, each of which is decorated with reliefs. 2. The ball shows scenes from the Brilon Schnadezugen and watercourses frame the reliefs. (The tradition of the Schnadezugen is based on the annual tour of the city lords to check the borders of the city's territory. This procession still takes place today as part of the shooting festival.) 3.The lower part of the column shows the former city wall with its four gates. Water flows out through the gates. In the upper part of the column there are other images, including an observer in a high seat or a woodpecker. At the very top of

The Derker Gate is the only one of the four former city gates that has been preserved. It was built shortly after the founding of the city of Brilon in 1220 and was first mentioned as "Dericker Porte" in 1473. The name is derived from the medieval settlement of Dederinghausen (south of Brilon). In the past, there was also a barrier connected to a "turnstile" in front of the city gate to catch strangers and keep out thieves and beggars. The strong wooden wings of the gate were closed at night. The upper floor was used as a municipal prison. However, this could only be entered through the adjacent gatehouse. In 1750, the old, dilapidated gate was torn down and rebuilt in a lower version. The name of the gate was transferred to the adjacent city district, the Derker Viertel. (Source: information board at the city gate)