Horn - Burg

Horn (since 1970 part of Horn-Bad Meinberg) was founded by Bernhard III, Edler Herr zur Lippe, after 1230. It was first mentioned in 1248. Horn was located on the old road, that run from Cologne to Hamlin - and today is known as "Bundesstrasse 1" (B1).

Horn got strongly fortified with a surrounding wall and a moat. The castle, was part of this fortification, though it was later used as a kind of retirement home by several widows of the House of Lippe.

Armed conflicts over the city took place in particular during the Soest feud (1444–1449) and during the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648). In 1864, large parts of the city were destroyed in a fire, about 60 houses burnt down including the town hall.

Horn is the home of the "Schlachtschwertierer" (battle swordsmen). They form a so-called "Rott" as part of the local Schuetzenverein.

According to a legend, Wilhelm von Braunschweig and Bernhard zur Lippe were involved in a feud around 1485. In the course of the feud, Bernhard was taken prisoner and brought to the castle in Calenberg. The demanded ransom of 200,000 guilders was extremely high. The Horn citizens decided to raid the castle and free Bernhard. The men climbed the castle, smashed the iron door of the dungeon and Count Bernhard was freed. They took home the castle bell, swords, armour and chain mail as their booty. Count Bernhard guaranteed the citizens numerous freedoms. The bell in the town hall tower, as well as the two-handed swords and mail shirts, are now owned by the Schützengesellschaft and are said to date from the time of Count Bernhard's liberation (what some scholars doubt).