Werl

Infobox German Location
Name = Werl
image_caption = Wallfahrtsbasilika
image_photo = Basilika Werl.jpg
Art = Stadt
Wappen = Werl.pnglat_deg = 51 |lat_min = 33 |lat_sec = 0
lon_deg = 7 |lon_min = 55 |lon_sec = 0
Bundesland = NRW
Regierungsbezirk = Arnsberg
Landkreis = Soest
Höhe = 73-228
Fläche = 76.24
Einwohner = 32198
Stand = 2005-12-31
pop_source =
PLZ = 59457
Vorwahl = 02922
Kfz = SO
Gemeindeschlüssel = 05 9 74 052
Gliederung = 10
Straße = Hedwig-Dransfeld-Straße 23
59457 Werl
Website = [http://www.werl.de/ www.werl.de]
Bürgermeister = Michael Grossmann
Partei = CDU

Werl is a town located in the district of Soest in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Geography

Werl is easily accessible because it is located between the Sauerland, Münsterland, and the Ruhr Area. The Hellweg road runs through the city, as Werl is a part of the fertile Bördelandschaft of the Werl-Unnaer Börde.

Neighbouring municipalities

Division of the town

Werl consists of the following districts:
* Blumenthal (48 inhabitants)
* Budberg (596 inhabitants)
* Büderich (3107 inhabitants)
* Hilbeck (1339 inhabitants)
* Holtum (1049 inhabitants)
* Mawicke (521 inhabitants)
* Niederbergstraße (210 inhabitants)
* Oberbergstraße (363 inhabitants)
* Sönnern (870 inhabitants)
* Westönnen (2665 inhabitants)
* Werl (22151 inhabitants)

History

Werl was a member of the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages, and has contained a statue of the Virgin Mary since 1661. Today this relic is located in the Wallfahrtsbasilika, and the Franciscan religious order takes care of it. Due to the Marien pilgrimage, Werl is the third largest pilgrimage destination in Germany.

Main sights

* One of the largest prisons of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Werl Prison, is located here.
* The 4th United States Army Field Artillery Detachment was stationed in Werl until 1992.

Twin towns

* Halle, Belgium, since 1973

External links

* [http://www.stadt-werl.de Official website] de icon
* [http://www.reise-photografie.de/werl/ Images from Werl] de icon