Brilon

Brilon is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, that belongs to the Hochsauerlandkreis.GeographyBrilon is situated on the Brilon Heights at an altitude of about 450 m on the upper reaches of the river Möhne. The town lies between the Arnsberg Forest nature reserve to the west and the Lake Diemel nature reserve and the Hoppecke to the south-east.Neighbouring municipalitiesDivision of the townAfter the local government reforms of 1975 Brilon consists of 17 districts: Alme Altenbüren Bontkirchen Brilon Town Brilon-Wald Esshoff Gudenhagen/Petersborn Hoppecke Madfeld Messinghausen Nehden Radlinghausen Rixen Rösenbeck Scharfenberg Thülen Wülfte HistoryThe first documentary reference occurs in a deed of the Emperor Otto II dated 973, confirming to the Cathedral of Magdeburg all those possessions in Westphalia given to it by his father, including the Villa Brilon. This reference must of course apply to a considerably older settlement than the present town, presumably what is now Altenbrilon. The Brilon estate passed later by exchange to the Archbishops of Paderborn, who endowed their steward ("Vogt") with it.