Bad Driburg () is a town and spa in Höxter district in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, situated on the river Aa and the Altenbeken–Kreiensen railway. Geography Bad Driburg lies on the eastern slopes of the Eggegebirge which is roughly 20 km east of Paderborn. Constituent communities Bad Driburg consists of 10 districts: Alhausen Driburg Dringenberg with Siebenstern Erpentrup Herste Kühlsen Langeland Neuenheerse Pömbsen with Bad Hermannsborn Reelsen History Prehistory Archaeological finds bear witness to settlement in the Driburg area between about 3000 and 1800 BC, in the Middle and New Stone Age. Further important finds from the Bronze Age attest to quite a high culture living in the area between about 1800 and 600 BC. Ancient times Finds of potsherds and above all coins dating up to AD 15 show at least that there was peaceful trade between the Romans and the Cherusci, a Germanic tribe living in the area in antiquity. Middle Ages In 772, Charlemagne began military operations against the Saxons. Shortly thereafter, one of the churches consecrated to Saint Peter was built on the Iburg. This is one of the oldest churches in historic Saxony. In 868, the Bishop of Paderborn founded the convent at Neuenheerse, now a constituent community of Bad Driburg. The convent church was built much later, in the early 12th century. After the Bishopric of Paderborn was reorganized in 1231, Driburg became the seat of an archdeaconate. The Driburger Pfennig began to be minted at this time, and has now become a very rare coin (see Coat of arms below). It was also at about this time, or perhaps somewhat later, that Driburg was granted town rights. The document granting them, however, was lost long ago. A document from 1290 nevertheless makes it clear that, by this time, Driburg has town rights. In the 14th century, the Castle Dringenberg was built. In 1323 Dringenberg, now a constituent community of Bad Driburg, was granted town rights and was seat of the free court until 1765. On 10 April 1345, Bishop Balduin of Paderborn renewed Driburg's town rights. In 1444, Otto Duke of Braunschweig (Brunswick) destroyed Schloß Iburg (castle) and had it razed. Modern era About 1500 came the beginnings of glassworks around Driburg. In 1593, the Driburger Heilquellen (healing springs) were once more made usable. In the next century, two town fires in relatively quick succession—in 1680 and again in 1683—burnt the town to the