Duderstadt

Duderstadt is an old town of the Eichsfeld, first recorded in 929 and later held by the archbishops of Mainz. Its market street runs between the churches of Saint Cyriacus and Saint Servatius, past the town hall begun in 1302. Towers and walls guarded the town: the Westerturm, built in 1343, burned in 1424 and was rebuilt over the following twelve years. In 1506 the council commissioned an outer earthwork, drawing labour from surrounding farmers as well as townspeople to strengthen the defences protecting the district.