The History of Attendorn at a Glance

As early as prehistoric times people settle on the area of what is today
the town center, because of the favorable climate, soil and travel links.

ca. 800	Origin of the early Attendorn Parish and construction of the first small mission church.
1072	First documented mention of "Attandarra" on the event of the foundation of the Grafschaft Monastery by Archbishop Anno of Cologne. At about the same time, Attendorn becomes the seat of a large deanery. The first church is replaced by a larger one.
1176	The Cologne archbishop grants the parish members the right to elect their own priests.
about 1200	Construction of Schnellenberg Castle.
about 1200	Construction of a trichora Romanesque basilica. The lower stories of the attached tower still stand today.
1222	By granting Attendorn the Law of Soest, Archbishop Engelbert of Cologne elevates it to a town. Thus Cologne created a position of power for itself in southern Westphalia.
1248	The Cologne archbishopric purchases Waldenburg Castle located by Attendorn. This step as well serves to safeguard the interests of Cologne.
1253	First town fire.
1255	The young town joins the Rhenish Confederation of towns. In the 14th century the town acquires mediate membership in the Hanseatic League through Soest.
1328	Archbishop Heinrich confirms the chapel founded by the merchants’ fraternity of St. Nicolas on Ennester Strasse.
1346	Founding and confirmation of the hospital "extra muros", in front of the Water Gate.
1353	The merchant Robert von der Becke bequeaths his entire inventory of timber for the construction of the Attendorn parish church (Gothic hall church, still standing today).
1396	Confirmation of the foundation of a chancel chapter house established by Johann von der Becke. The eight vicars of Attendorn carried out the canonical hours, as was common practice in cathedral and monastery churches.
1420	Archbishop Dietrich II confirms Heinrich Weke’s foundation of the Ewig Monastery.
1455	An uprising of the craftsmen changes the administrative structure of the town. From now on the merchants allow the guilds predominance in the administration.
1484	Founding of the St. Sebastian marksmen’s vicarage. In 1910 the year of the founding of the marksmen’s club is determined to be 1410.
about 1500	Tilmann Mülle founds a humanist grammar school.
1583	The town is occupied by the Cologne Archbishop Gebhard Truchsess who has converted to the Reformed faith. Iconoclasm in the parish and hospital church.
1613	The plague hits Attendorn; sensational burial of the seemingly dead Tonis Kallenbeul.
1632 - 1634	The town is besieged by Swedish and Hessian troops.
1637	Founding of a Franciscan monastery in Attendorn.
1656	1710, 1732, 1737, 1742, 1778 and 1783 disastrous town fires break out. The fires of 1742 and 1783 destroy the entire town.
1803	In the course of secularization, Attendorn comes under Hessian rule. The Franciscan Monastery and Ewig Monastery are dissolved.
1812	Repeal of the old magistrate constitution. The medieval town fortifications are taken down.
1816	The Duchy of Westphalia goes to Prussia and the Prussian administration of Arnsberg.
1835	Introduction of the revised order of towns.
1848	In the course of domestic political unrest, Attendorn is described as a "nest of democracy", since the democratic movement was particularly strong here.
1874	Opening of the Biggetal Railway, which is favorable to town development.
1873 - 1881	Conflicts among the citizenry caused by the struggle between the Prussian state and the church.
1945	On March 28th the town is badly damaged by a bomb attack, on June 15th 35 people are killed by an ammunition explosion.
1969	On July 1st the new town of Attendorn is formed with the former municipalities of Rural Attendorn and Helden through municipal restructuring.
1979	Opening of the new hospital which now (1998) has 9 departments and in-patient wards.
1985	The new Town Hall is dedicated on November 29th.
1997	Celebration of the 775th Anniversary of the Town of Attendorn.