Hattingen is a German town located in northern part of the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis distirct, in North Rhine-Westphalia.

History

Hattingen is located at the south bank of River Ruhr in the southern of the Ruhr Area. The town was first mentioned in 1396 when the Duke of Mark granted permission to build a city wall. Today Hattingen has a pituresque Old Town with half-timbered houses originating from the 14th to 16th century. The old city is partly surrounded by city walls still today. There are three castles remaining within the municipal area of Hattingen. Castle Isenburg was build in the 12th century in the hillsides above the Ruhr. The castle was destroyed in 1225 though prominent ruines remain. Castle Blankenstein was build in the 13th century above River Ruhr and House Kemnade is a moated castle from the 16th century. All castles are famous touristic landmarks and open to the public. Hattingen became part of the Hanseatic League in 1554 and became an important trading town. In 1720 there where 52 operating coal mines within the municipal area and Hattingen became one of the first industrial cities of the Ruhr Area. Steel production startet in 1853 when the Henrichshütte was founded. The Henrichshütte should become one of the most important employer of the whole region and dominated the town until its closure in 1987. Today Hattingen still faces problems concerning the economic structural change but is becoming a centre of tourism, especially the historical center of this town.

Neighbouring places

The neighbouring towns are Bochum, Essen, Sprockhövel, Velbert, Witten and Wuppertal.

Division of the town

Hattingen is divided into the districts of:

• Blankenstein with Burg Blankenstein
• Bredenscheid-Stüter
• Hattingen-Mitte
• Holthausen
• Niederbonsfeld
• Niederelfringhausen
• Niederwenigern
• Oberelfringhausen
• Oberstüter
• Welper
• Winz-Baak

Notable persons

• Harald Siepermann, Character Designer
• Marie-Luise Marjan, actress
• Jamiri (Jan-Michael Richter), comic artist
• Andreas Bieber, singer and actor
• Mirjam Müntefering, author

External links

• Hattingen (portrait)
• (in German)
• (in German)
• (in German)