Editing Herford (section)

==History==
The town was founded in 789 by [[Charlemagne]] in order to guard a [[Ford (crossing)|ford]] in the narrow [[Werre River|Werre river]]. A century later, [[Matilda of Ringelheim|Matilda]], daughter of [[Dietrich of Ringelheim]], a count of [[Saxony]], grew up in the [[Herford Abbey|abbey of Herford]]; she was a descendant of the Saxon leader [[Widukind]]. In Herford she met [[Henry the Fowler]], who later became king of Germany.

In late medieval times Herford was a member of the [[Hanseatic League]]. It was a Free Imperial City, i.e. it was directly subordinated to the emperor. This status was lost after the [[Peace of Westphalia]] (1648), when Herford was annexed by [[Brandenburg-Prussia]]. It was administered within the [[Province of Westphalia]] following the [[Napoleonic Wars]], and made part of the new state [[North Rhine-Westphalia]] after [[World War II]].

[[File:Muensterkirche-sideview.jpg|thumb|left|Herford Minster]]
[[File:St.Johannis.Herford.jpg|thumb|left|Saint John's Church]]
[[File:Herford MARTa 88.jpg|thumb|right|MARTa-Museum]]
[[File:Herford Jakobikirche IMGP2635 wp.jpg|thumb|left|Saint James' Church]]
[[File:St Marien Herford1.JPG|thumb|right|Saint Mary's Church]]
[[File:Cruewell-Haus.jpg|thumb|right|Bürgermeisterhaus]]
[[File:Wulfert-Haus Herford.jpg|thumb|right|Wulferthaus]]
[[File:Fruehherrenhaus Herford.jpg|thumb|right|Frühherrenhaus]]