Siegen - Martinikirche

The city of Siegen (pop. 100.000) got its name probably from the
river name Sieg. The city´s history is connected to mining, some mines date back to the late Iron Age.

In 1224 the "Oberes Schloss" ("upper castle") existed already was already standing at this time, in 1303, the town was granted town rights.

In the 16th century, the town was surrounded by walls with 16 towers and three town gates. After the Refomarmation Protestands (Calvinists) and Catholics lived here side by side. A sometimes violent neighborhood. Mid 18th century the wealthy area was part of the Principality of Orange-Nassau, ruled by William I, who was Prince of Orange-Nassau, Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands.

In 1815 Siegen was assigned to the Prussian Province of Westphalia.

In 1577, Peter Paul Rubens, the the best known son of the city, was born here to the Calvinists Jan Rubens and Maria Pypelincks, who had fled Antwerp.

Archeologists have proven, that already during the 8th century a building was here, overlooking and so securing a ford below. In the 11th century a collegiate church existed here, that got destroyed end of the 12th century. It got rebuilt around 1230 and modificated 1511-1516. The park, that surrounds the church, once was the medieval graveyard.