Hexenturm (Rüthen)

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Rüthener Hexenturm

The Rüthener Hexenturm , formerly called Allagener Turm , is a listed medieval tower of the former city ​​fortifications of Rüthen .

history

During the witch hunt in the Duchy of Westphalia, suspects like Freunnd Happen from Meiste were imprisoned in the tower , even if this is partly denied. In addition to the Witches Tower, the Hachtor (gate tower of the city wall), also called Hachtpforte, was used as a prison and torture place for alleged wizards and witches, but also for other prisoners.

Witch exhibition

Replica of a torture chair in the exhibition in the Hexenturm
Memorial plaque for Friedrich Spee and Michael Stappert

In the Rüthener Hexenturm there is an exhibition on the persecution of witches, which was developed by the Rüthen cultural ring. The culture ring takes up the dark chapter of the witch hunt in Rüthen.

In the small town of Rüthen 102 people from Rüthen were murdered in the course of the persecution of so-called wizards and witches. These included 50 men and 52 women. If you include today's districts, the number adds up to 169 people. They either died as a result of the brutal torture or were executed after dubious court judgments.

Numerous replicas of instruments of torture are shown in the exhibition. There is also a mug in the exhibition, because according to the logic of the Inquisition, the accused had to be fully conscious during the torture. Therefore, when he threatened to faint, he was given a fortifying and stimulating drink. The life stories of individual "witches" are also documented. B. by Grete Eickhoff, who was beheaded and burned in 1659, four years after her mother. The exhibition is also reminiscent of champions against the witch craze, such as Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld , from whom the earliest evidence of the legal principle " In doubt for the accused " in the German legal area comes, and Michael Stappert . A bronze relief by Bert Gerresheim from Düsseldorf on the Hexenturm is dedicated to both men .

The witch hunt in the Duchy of Westphalia, to which Rüthen belonged, occurred from the 16th century to the 18th century. The Duchy of Westphalia was one of the focal points of persecution in the Holy Roman Empire and in Europe in the 17th century.

The North Rhine-Westphalia Foundation for Nature Conservation, Homeland and Culture Care , or NRW Foundation for short , supported the Rüthen cultural ring in setting up the exhibition on the persecution of witches. Individual and group tours for the exhibition can be booked through the Rüthen City Archives.

literature

  • NRW Foundation (ed.): Our NRW - travel guide to cultural and natural monuments - Siegerland and Sauerland. Klartext Verlag, Essen 2011. Section Hexenturm Rüthen, ISBN 978-3-8375-0624-2 , pp. 35–37.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Walter Dalhoff: To Rüthener witch trials. In: Alfred Bruns (Ed.): Witches. Jurisdiction in the Sauerland region of Cologne. Schmallenberg 1984 p. 186
  2. ↑ Witches Tower in Rüthen .
  3. ↑ Witches Tower in Rüthen

Coordinates: 51 ° 29 ′ 27.2 "  N , 8 ° 25 ′ 30.2"  E