City museum Haus Hövener in Brilon

As the former residence of the prominent Hövener family of Brilon entrepreneurs in the coal and steel industry, the Haus Hövener Museum invites visitors on a journey through Brilon’s economic, social, and cultural history. The last owner and founder of the “Briloner Eisenberg und Gewerke – Stadtmuseum Brilon” foundation, Wilhelmine Hövener, made virtually no changes to the house or its furnishings during her lifetime, so the house has been preserved largely in its 1910 condition. The family that owned the house—which was active in mining and iron smelting for over four centuries—left behind an extensive collection of furnishings, a family portrait gallery, a business archive, and a specialized library. This gives visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the history of a coal-mining region. A highlight at Haus Hövener is the interactive city model, which offers visitors insights into Brilon’s city life in past centuries.

The region’s geological history also has something special to offer. On display in the historic vaulted cellar are the original bones of the Iguanodon dinosaur—discovered in 1978 in a quarry near Brilon-Nehden—as well as a skeletal reconstruction and a dinosaur model.

Station 9 Old Town Walking Tour

Site of the Hospital of the Holy Spirit for over four centuries; first mentioned in a document in 1346. Destroyed by fire in 1742. The current building was constructed in 1803. In 1999, it was donated to the citizens of the city by Wilhelmine Hövener, the last owner. Since 2011, it has been the Haus Hövener Museum, featuring an interactive city model that provides detailed information on the city’s history.