Lemgo Attractions

In the Lemgo Markt, lined with handsome gabled houses, stands the Town Hall (14th-17th C.), with a Gothic stepped gable, an arcade and a fine Renaissance oriel (1612). Opposite it is the Ballhaus (1609).

In the Breite Strasse, which runs south from the Markt in Lemgo, stands the Hexenbürgermeisterhaus, a magnificent Renaissance building of 1571, now occupied by the Heimatmuseum. In the museum is the Engelbert Kämpfer Room, containing mementos of Kämpfer, a native of Lemgo who traveled to Japan in the 17th C.

13km/8mi northeast of Lemgo is Burg Sternberg, the seat of a noble family of that name. It now houses a collection of old musical instruments. Concerts are held here with historic instruments.

In Hamelner Strasse, which runs east from Lemgo, can be seen the Junkerhaus, covered externally and internally with grotesque carvings by its eccentric owner, Karl Junker.

Mittelstrasse (pedestrian zone) in Lemgo is lined with old stone and half-timbered houses. At No. 17 is the Alt-Lemgo inn (1587), at No. 24 Haus Sonnenuhr (1546), at No. 27 Haus Sauerländer (1569), at No. 36 the Planetenhaus (1612).

On either side of the street are two old defensive towers, the Johannisturm (St John's Tower) and the Pulverturm (Powder Tower).

Southeast of Lemgo's old town is Schloss Brake, a 13th C. moated castle. The tower and north wing (16th C.) were Renaissance additions. It contains a Museum of the Weser Renaissance.

Near the Heimatmuseum in Lemgo's Stiftstrasse, is St Mary's Church, a Gothic hall-church (1320). It has a Scherer organ of 1600 (annual organ festival).

To the east of the Markt in Lemgo is St Nicholas's Church (13th C., with a Gothic extension). The church has a Romanesque reredos, an Early Baroque high altar, Renaissance monuments, and a beautiful font (1597).

Around St-Nikolai-Kirchhof are a number of charming old half-timbered houses.