Lüdenscheid is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the Sauerland area at 51° 13' North, 7° 38' East. Population: 80,613 (2000). Area: 86.7 km². It is the district capital of the Märkische Kreis.

Table of contents
1 History
2 Coat of arms
3 Sports
4 External link

History

While first settlement in the Lüdenscheid area is confirmed for the 9th century, the first mention of the city was made in 1268. In the 15th and 16th century Lüdenscheid was a member of the Hanseatic League. In 1815 it became part of Westphalia, and 1975, with the creation of the Märkische Kreis, became district capital.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms show St. Medardus as the patron of the city. Below it has the red-and-white checkered sign from the Counts of the Mark. The city wall in the bottom denotes the city rights Lüdenscheid got in 1287.

Sports

Fortuna Lüdenscheid is a mockery name of the football club Borussia Dortmund, most commonly used by the fans of FC Schalke 04. The real football club Rot-Weiß Lüdenscheid is playing in the Verbandsliga, the fourth level below the Bundesliga, but did play once in the second Bundesliga in 1977/78.

External link

Official website