Detmold

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Detmold is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with a poulation of about 80,000. It was the capital of the small principality of Lippe until 1918 and then of the Free State of Lippe until 1947. Today it is the administrative center of the district (Kreis) Lippe.

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Middle Ages

Detmold was first mentioned in 783 as Theotmalli, and in 1005 a Tietmelli or Theotmalli region (Gau) is referred to in documents. In 1263, Bernard III of Lippe fortified the settlement at the crossing of the trade route from Paderborn to Lemgo over the Werre river with stone walls and granted it a municipal charter. Its population was reported in 1305 as 305. Market rights granted in 1265 led to rapid economic development. Its defenses were greatly strengthed after severe damage had been inflicted on the town during the conflict with Soest in 1447. A major fire in 1547 destroyed more than 70 houses.

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In 1550, Detmold became the permanent residence of Count Simon III (Lippe). The counts were elevated to princes in 1789, and Detmold remained the capital of this small principality until the end of the First World war in 1918, when all princely states in Germany were abolished.

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Modern Times

Under Count Friedrich Adolf the town was expanded southward from 1701 onward. To allow further growth, permission to remove the fortification walls and trenches was granted in 1720, but the gates and towers were kept in place until the 1780s. Street lighting was introduced in 1809, with oil-fired lanterns. By 1835, the town had become the most populous in Lippe, with over 4,000 residents. It grew to 12,000 in 1900 and over 30,000 in 1950.

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From 1919 to 1947, Detmold was the capital of the Free State of Lippe. When Lippe was incorporated into the new German state of Northrhine-Westfalia, the town became district headquarters of Lippe district, and since 1972 it is the seat of the county administration of Lippe. With the adminstrative reform of 1970, 25 near-by villages were incorporated into the city.

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Sights

• Westf?lisches Freilichtmuseum Detmold (Westfalian Outdoor Museum)
• Landestheater Detmold (Theater)
• Hermannsdenkmal (Arminius Monument)
• Adlerwarte Berlebeck (Falconry)
• F?rstliches Residenzschloss Detmold (Castle)
• Donoper Teich (pond)
• Hasselbachteich (pond)
• Vogelpark Heiligenkirchen (bird sanctuary)

Lippe: This article is about the district Lippe. For the same-named river see Lippe River....

1918: 1918 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar....

783: Events...