Schieder-Schwalenberg


Schieder-Schwalenberg is a town in the Lippe district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated approximately east of Detmold.
It consists of 8 communes, which have been combined to a town in 1970. The names of the communes are Schieder, Brakelsiek, Schwalenberg, Lothe, Ruensiek, Wöbbel, Siekholz and Kreienberg, the district Schieder together with Glashütte is a Kneipp health resort. Together they have c. 9,300 residents.

Geography

Schieder-Schwalenberg is located between the Teutoburger Wald and the Weserbergland. The district of Schieder is situated on the banks of Schiedersee, an artificial lake that is fed and drained by the River Emmer.

Coat of arms

The swallow on the red ground depicts Schwalenberg's municipal coat of arms.
On the blue ground the crown represents the summer residence of the House of Lippe, the castle at Schieder. The white line in between represents the River Emmer.

Economy

The main industrial sector is the furniture industry. Schieder Möbel are the main producer of furniture. Apart from the furniture branch tourism plays an important part in the economy. Tourists, mainly from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, often come to rent holiday flats for a short break. The Schiedersee and the Glashütte district attract many visitors.

History

The County of Schwalenberg was first mentioned with count Widekind I in 1127. The original seat of the counts had been Oldenburg Castle at Marienmünster. The monastery of Marienmünster was founded by the counts in 1128. Schwalenberg Castle was built between 1228 and 1231 by count Volkwin III. During the 13th century the territory of the counts was split between several branches, creating the county of Schwalenberg itself, the county of Pyrmont, the county of Waldeck and the county of Sternberg. When the Schwalenberg branch extinguished in 1365, its territory was divided between the House of Lippe, and the Prince-Bishopric of Paderborn.