Hans-Jürgen Witt

With city and castle guide Hans-Jürgen Witt

You often see him strolling through the town, sometimes stopping here, sometimes there. Sometimes he is even dressed up. He has a story to tell about every place, every building, almost every stone. Hans-Jürgen Witt is a town guide, a castle guide at Vischering Castle, a castle guide at Lüdinghausen Castle and a member of the Burgfreunde. He knows the history of our town better than almost anyone else.

The retired Protestant pastor has always been interested in history. He even started a degree course, "but it was just too much for me at the same time as wanting to work as a parish priest," says Hans-Jürgen Witt. "Now I've reactivated my love of history and can tell people about it. I really enjoy that."

Favorite place: Vischering Castle in the evening

After 25 years as a pastor in Hamm-Bockum-Hövel, the 65-year-old moved to Lüdinghausen with his wife six years ago. "We immediately liked the town immensely. Lüdinghausen with its castles, the lively town center and its nature is simply beautiful. We only ride our bikes here. It's wonderful!" enthuses Witt. His absolute favorite place is Vischering Castle. In the evening, when the sun is low and the visitors have gone. "It's just beautiful there then!"

He has thought carefully about what he wants to do when he retires. Although he enjoys the freedom, he also wants to do something meaningful alongside his small involvement in the church community. Five years ago, he first became a city guide, then a castle guide. He became intensively involved with the history of the town and its castles. "Local, social, church and world history come together in Lüdinghausen. That's what makes Lüdinghausen's past so exciting," says Witt.

He gives three examples: On the exterior façade of Lüdinghausen Castle, you can see the food prices from 1773 - social history. The missionary work of the Saxons played a major role in Lüdinghausen - church history. And the 30 Years' War reached as far as our town - world history.

Lüdinghausen residents appreciate their town

The guided tours are so exciting for him because he always has to adapt to new people. "I'm particularly pleased when Lüdinghausen residents learn something they didn't know during my tours," says Witt. "And the people of Lüdinghausen really appreciate their town, you can really feel that."

Corona has made work in the castles much more difficult, and Lüdinghausen Castle in particular is suffering from the pandemic. "Almost all of the castle friends belong to the risk group, so we can't guarantee opening at the moment," says Witt. "We are currently offering one free guided tour a month - by appointment, of course." But that's not the castle. "The castle lives from the fact that it is open." He hopes that it will be open again next spring.

Touch, see and smell

The Burgfreunde - the association that looks after Lüdinghausen Castle - has grown very close to his heart over time. For the Open Monument Day, they put together a film about the castle, which Hans-Jürgen Witt discussed and which can be viewed on the homepage or on YouTube. "We have to keep up with digitalization," says Witt. But personal experience on site is much more important: "Touching, seeing, smelling, feeling - perceiving with all your senses. Only then can we really experience history!" Nadine Wenge