Strohsemmelfest
An arts, crafts and culinary festival in the old town on the last weekend of June. Regional artists present and sell handmade products, culinary specialties and crafts.
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Lemgo
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City
ℹ️Practical info — Lemgo
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Admire the Weser Renaissance architecture on the market square, especially the magnificent Town Hall.
- A walk along the 'Wall', the former city fortifications, has a green route around the city center.
- Visit the Junkerhaus, an extraordinary work of art featuring intricate wood carvings.
- Use the free parking lots on the edge of the city center (e.g., Regenstorplatz) to explore the old town easily on foot.
- Look out for the 'Lippische Rose', the regional symbol found on many historical buildings.
🍽 Food
🍽
Lippischer Pickert
These regional potato and yeast pancakes are traditionally served with beet syrup or butter in the old town's inns.
🍽
Lippische Strohsemmel
A special roll baked on straw, look for them in traditional bakeries around Mittelstraße.
🍽
Regional Venison
Try game specialties from the Lippe forests in the traditional restaurants near the market square.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Mittelstraße
The central shopping street with its historic half-timbered houses gives a mix of specialty shops and boutiques.
🛍
Weekly Market
Held twice a week on the market square; first-rate for regional products like Lippe cheese and sausages.
🧘
Abteigarten
A quiet park right on the edge of the old town, convenient for a short break in the greenery.
🧘
Staffpark
A sculpture park slightly outside the center, peacefully combining nature and modern art.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
1
The old Hanseatic city of Lemgo is a true jewel of Weser Renaissance architecture, captivating visitors with an exceptionally well-preserved historic townscape. Strolling through streets lined with magnificent stone and half-timbered houses feels like stepping right back into the 16th and 17th centuries. The most outstanding building is the Hexenbürgermeisterhaus (Mayor of Witches' House), featuring a highly ornate facade with striking oriel windows. Today, it operates as a museum critically examining the dark history of the local witch trials, in which the eponymous mayor, Hermann Cothmann, played a notorious role. Right on the market square, the historic town hall dominates the view with its characteristic Renaissance gables. A completely different yet equally fascinating highlight is the Junkerhaus on the outskirts of town. In the late 19th century, the eccentric artist Karl Junker covered this bizarre home with obsessive wood carvings down to the last corner, creating a truly unique masterpiece of outsider architecture. Beyond its historical sites, Lemgo’s lively pedestrian zone provides cozy cafés and independent shops great for a relaxed afternoon. Surrounded by the gently rolling hills of the Lipper Bergland, the city also serves as an excellent starting point for rural cycling and hiking tours.
- Location: North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Top sights: Witch Mayor's House · Lemgo Town Hall · Brake Castle
- Nearby: Lage (9 km)
- Population: ~40.531
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Rain mm | 80 | 58 | 56 | 44 | 66 | 69 | 78 | 74 | 59 | 63 | 71 | 78 |
Geography
Facts
- Founded around 1190 by Bernhard II, Lord of Lippe.
- Total city area is roughly 100.3 square kilometers.
- The Town Hall is a UNESCO-recognized Renaissance site.
- The Witch Mayor's House documents local history.
- TBV Lemgo has won two German handball championships.
- Home to the significant Eben-Ezer foundation.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
Vehicle
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© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Lemgo (8)
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous building in Lemgo?
The Hexenbürgermeisterhaus, a magnificent Renaissance building, is the landmark of the city.
What is the Junkerhaus?
An extraordinarily designed house by the artist Karl Junker with detailed carvings inside and out.
Does Lemgo belong to the Hanseatic League?
Yes, Lemgo was an important Hanseatic city and is now a member of the New Hanseatic League.
Are there parking facilities in the old town?
There are several parking lots and parking garages around the old town, just a few minutes' walk from the center.
What is Lemgo known for in sports?
The city is a stronghold of handball, known for the successful Bundesliga team TBV Lemgo Lippe.
Lemgo: where is it located?
Lemgo is located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Lemgo: what is there to see?
Highlights include Witch Mayor's House, Lemgo Town Hall, Brake Castle.
Lemgo: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Lemgo: why is it worth visiting?
The old Hanseatic city of Lemgo is a true jewel of Weser Renaissance architecture, captivating visitors with an exceptionally well-preserved historic townscape.
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