Forest gift bestowed by Count Gottfried honored in Arnsberg with a donation event
In the charming towns of Neheim and Hüsten, a weekend of celebrations is set to take place, commemorating the significant forest gift bestowed upon them by Count Gottfried IV and his wife Anna over 650 years ago.
The festivities kick off on Friday, September 19th, with a delegation of citizens, council members, flag bearers, and students from specific schools travelling to Cologne Cathedral for a wreath-laying ceremony. Count Gottfried, the secular ruler being honoured, is buried in the hallowed grounds of the cathedral.
In Hüsten, the day will see students from Mühlenberg School performing their Graf Gottfried play on the market square in front of the church at 10:30 AM, with sweets also being distributed by council members.
Meanwhile, in Neheim, the Graf Gottfried play will be performed by a theater group from Graf Gottfried School on the Gransauplatz at 11 AM, followed by the distribution of traditional sweets by council members.
The highlight of this year's celebration will occur on Saturday, September 20th. A thanksgiving service will be held in the Sauerland Cathedral St. Johannes Baptist at 5:30 PM. This social gathering, for which no specific details were provided, will also take place on the same day.
The commemoration events in Neheim and Hüsten are part of the festivities related to the forest gift. In 1368, the city of Arnsberg was granted the city forest ("Stadtforst") by the Counts of Arnsberg. The income from the city forest was to be used, among other things, for the maintenance of the city walls.
The organization of the Cologne Cathedral event has been taken over by the Schützenbruderschaft St. Johannes Baptist Neheim this year. The "Förderverein Altstadt Neheim e.V." has established the event "Graf Gottfried Rocks" on the Gransauplatz since 2024. This music festival will feature local bands such as "4 Murders," "Orange Gold," "New Brand," and "How Many Roads" performing at 7 PM on Friday, September 19th, 2025, and at 11 AM on Saturday, September 20th. Admission to the concerts is free.
The public distribution of sweets will take place in Neheim and Hüsten on Saturday, September 20th, concluding the weekend of celebrations in honour of Count Gottfried IV and his wife Anna, and the medieval structural policy that gifted the city forest to the town of Neheim.
