Welcome, dear visitors, to the wall of the praiseworthy and ancient town of Wildeshausen. The city wall has always surrounded and protected the Stiftsfreiheit around the Alexanderkirche and the four districts including Zwischenbrücken on the other side of the Hunte. This wall not only meant protection from robbers and foreign soldiers, it also meant security for all those who were looking for accommodation in Wildeshausen, whether as travelers who were traveling on the great overland road, the Flemish Road, or for those who went about their business here, especially on the big market days. Even more, however, the wall turned the local residents into citizens, because it made Wildeshausen a town for all the world to see. By the 13th century at the latest, the town was surrounded by a fortified wall according to municipal law, which was expanded over time and adapted to military requirements. It's a shame I never saw the fortifications at their best. It consisted of 3 concentric walls and 2 dry ditches. The inner ring with excellent towers and gates, which were equipped with veritable artillery, was well preserved. The gates themselves were so stately that the sutlers found their place under their arches. But all the defensiveness was of no use against shameful betrayal. When in April 1529 the bishop of Münster's mercenaries broke into the city, no shots were fired from the wall to defend it, for the enemy came secretly through the gate, which should have been secured. It was the gate to Wildeshausen Castle, where the bishop's guard sat, who had to help his master with all his plans. As a punishment, the bishop of Münster took all of the city's freedom rights and as a visible sign of this he had all the walls torn down, so that Wildeshausen became an open, defenseless area. Only a few years later did the place regain a handful of rights. Wildeshausen was also allowed to build a wall again. In many areas it was exactly above the old one, but it no longer had the same defensive capability. Since the Great War broke out in 1618, the people of Münster have cursed about themselves more than once for having robbed themselves of this massive bastion at the crossing of the Hunte. Wildeshausen has been occupied, passed through and conquered countless times in 30 years of war until barely half of the inhabitants remained in the city. Even then I already thought: maybe fate would have been less cruel if Wildeshausen had been able to defend itself better against foreign troops. After the Thirty Years' War, the walls no longer played an important role. Such a modest fortification could no longer stand up to any determined attacker. But even later, in uncertain times, the citizens had to stand guard on it. Many a rascal who has fallen asleep in the process has been taught by mores! Yes! Fall asleep on watch! This can't happen to me! I never sleep at night...
Just one more thing: If someone asks you who faithfully greeted you here on the wall according to status and law, tell them it was none other than Colonel Trentepyl...