Vörden Castle

In the year 1124, a Thiederic de Vordei (Dietrich von Vörden) was first mentioned as a landlord in Vörden. In the year 1319, the neighboring Marienmünster monastery began the expansion of the town, which provoked the protest of Bishop Dietrich II. von Itter. The town, situated on a hill, is protected by a castle, a town wall, and a surrounding rampart. There are two town gates. A monastic court is built in the town. Two years later, an agreement is reached with the new Bishop Bernard V. zu Lippe. In the year 1324, the town expansion is completed, and the town, along with the Gogericht (regional court) and the castle, are handed over by the abbot as Castrum et oppidum to dem Vorde to Bishop Bernhard V. This brought the town under the protection of the Paderborn Prince-Bishopric. The reason for the town expansion was feuds at the beginning of the 14th century. Vörden thus became a northern border town of the Prince-Bishopric. From 1339, the castle, town, and tithes were pledged to various creditors. From 1342, the inhabitants received the same town rights as the inhabitants of the town of Nieheim; many residents from the surrounding villages sought protection behind the town walls.

In the year 1573, the town moats were filled in, with the exception of the moats around the castle. In 1577, the town received permission to host two free markets per year. In the following year, the shooting society was first mentioned. In the year 1581, the town rights were renewed. In the year 1492, the castle came into the pledged possession of the von Haxthausen family. From 1582 until today, the castle has been the hereditary property of the family. The present castle was built in 1730 on the walls of the old castle.