City walk - In the footsteps of the beaver

A: (Weserstr. 24) Ferry house, built in 1853, a technical monument with a large wooden winch used to tension the ferry cable. The ferry, first mentioned in 1417, connected Beverungen with Lauenförde, but was previously further downstream. During high water, a basket was used for passenger transport. In 1877, a crossing cost 4 pfennigs per person, doubling at night and during high water. The ferry was an important source of income for the city. With the construction of the Weser bridge in 1902, ferry operations ended, but resumed after the bridge was destroyed in 1945 until its reconstruction in 1950.
B: (Weserstr. 31) The customs house is a two-story, eaves-facing solid building from 1831/32 with a high basement, a double-flight staircase, built in connection with the Weser ferry that led to the former Hanoverian Lauenförde.
C: (Weserstr. 23) Gable-standing half-timbered building with a simultaneous oriel (windowed projection from the building front as part of the interior) under its own gable, built in the 17th century. The ground floor has been altered by shop fittings. In the former farmer's town of Beverungen, we find the Low German hall house, but with a house reversal, meaning the living rooms were at the front facing the street, and the stables and manure pits at the back. The houses are covered with sandstone slabs, so-called Solling slabs, which have a fire-protective effect and have been preserved on various buildings to this day.
D: Catholic Church. This hall construction, built between 1682 and 1698 with a polygonal apse, has a west tower with a dome (multiple curved tower roof), a rich baroque interior from the construction period, such as the high altar with a painting by Johann Georg Rudolphi and a double Madonna. Above the entrance portal is the coat of arms of the Prince-Bishop of Paderborn, Ferdinand von Fürstenberg, under whom the construction began.
E: The name "Kellerplatz" has remained anchored in Beverungen's language over the centuries, referring to the restaurant temporarily housed in the town hall cellar. The original fountain was built in 1929, served as a war memorial, and was adorned with a Roland figure destroyed in 1945. The fountain was demolished in 1966. In 1987, a new fountain with a St. Michael figure was erected by the "Beverungia," an association of fraternity students. This fountain held a secret: it contained a beer tap system.
F: (Weserstr. 12) The current town hall was created from the conversion of two interconnected residential houses owned by the prominent mayor and merchant Grasso between 1871 and 1873. The half-timbered gable dates back to the 17th century with the inscription: RENOVATUM 1660. The town hall housed a school, kindergarten, district court, and city scale at times. At the back is a small Baroque portal, which the steward Casper Bömer had made in 1686 for his garden located behind the current town hall.
G: (Weserstr. 10) This two-story half-timbered gable house with a oriel from 1662 and sandstone roof was built by Cordt Holstein, a wealthy and powerful mayor of the city. It is distinguished by the rich ornamentation on the beam woods under the cantilevered, psalm-inscribed tie beams of the floors and gables. A double eagle also perches there as a symbol of the empire.
H: (Weserstr. 6) The historic half-timbered facade from 1693 with rich ornamentation serves as a facing for the newly built building. Special features include the large gate entrance with side posts and the archway with flower vases and ornaments. In the upper light zone stands the figure of Saint Sebastian between Jesus and Mary monograms. The building was constructed by the former mayor Christoph Sieker.
I: (Weserstr. 4) This building is a 2 1/2-story half-timbered gable house from 1611 with a Solling slab roof, overhanging bay (oriel), carved beams, and inscriptions. The main floor with a gate entrance is flanked by large, two-story parlor fittings. The upper floor above the tie beam was used as storage. The city's oldest half-timbered gable house has been used as a guesthouse since the 17th century. The 6.50m deep well inside the house is a rarity since wells were usually located outside buildings. The well can be visited.
J: (Weserstr. 13) This two-story stone building (eaves house) was built around 1790 and served as a pharmacy. The central axis is characterized by the entrance accessible via a small external staircase. The size and distribution of the dormer windows in the mansard roofs covered with Solling slabs emphasize the grandeur and reflect the wealth of the upper class.
K: (Burgstr. 30) This two-story half-timbered building with Solling slabs from the 18th century has been used almost exclusively as a restaurant since the mid-19th century. There was a period of dual use as a colonial goods store.
L: (Burgstr. 32) This half-timbered gable house from 1740 was built as a so-called farmer's house. The half-timbered four-post structure used to have a high passageway. Noteworthy are the narrow two-story side aisles and the columns with vine motifs.
M: (Burgstr. 26) This three-story Solling sandstone building from 1892 with a stepped gable, lateral annex, and staircase tower was used as a district court until 1969, as indicated by the Prussian eagle relief above the round portal. The slate roof emphasizes the Neo-Renaissance style. The building was erected in the area of the former outer bailey.
N: (An der Burg 4) The castle was built between 1330 and 1332 to secure the border and Weser shipping by the Prince-Bishop of Paderborn, the Abbot of Corvey, and the Knight of Brakel. Destroyed by Hesse and Sweden in 1632, it was rebuilt in 1650 after the Thirty Years' War. In 1860, the castle was demolished except for the steward's house and the residential tower. The five-story rubble stone building, covered with Solling slabs, has a gable extension in half-timbered at the floor band. Over the centuries, it has had various uses including as a warehouse, prison, youth hostel, and chair museum.
O: (An der Burg 1) The two-story, eaves-facing half-timbered building has projecting visible beams on the upper floor and in the gable triangle. The filling timbers with tooth cutting, the rear eaves wall, the Weser-oriented gable, and the high rubble stone base date back to 1650. The half-timbered balcony is a 20th-century addition. The building was originally used by the "steward" as the representative of the Prince-Bishop of Paderborn.
P: (Kolpingstr. 5) In 1926, the Kolping house with a hall and stage was built. In 1976, the building was demolished, and the first town hall was built, which was destroyed by a major fire on December 26, 1996. In 1998, the new town hall was inaugurated at the same location, continuing the tradition of a diverse cultural offering.
Q: This simple, east-facing hall church with a west tower was built in 1865/66 by the master builder Krekeler. The extension dates from 1966/67.
R: (Lange Str. 3) The two-story eaves house with a mansard roof, cantilevered staircase with weather vane, was built in 1794. It was built by the descendant of the Tyrolean church builder Carl August Weyrather, who came from a very wealthy and respected family. The maternal ancestors of the poet Hermann Löns also came from this family.
S: (Lange Str. 23) The memorial stone was erected in 1988 for the Jewish synagogue built in 1850 in classical forms. Despite surviving the desecration in 1938 during the Nazi dictatorship, it was sold in 1953 to the Jewish Trust Company. After being used as a furniture store, the building was demolished in 1969. Beverungen had a significant Jewish community, as evidenced by the large cemetery outside the city on the road to Dalhausen. The so-called "stumbling stones" commemorate the former Jewish residents of the city.
T: (Lange Str. 43) The two-story half-timbered gable house with timber decoration dates back to 1690. Twisting vines are a decorative element.
U: (Lange Str.45) The two-story half-timbered building features classicist style elements.
Returning to the starting point, the ferry house, via Mühlen- and Brinkstraße.