MINDEN, a town of Germany, in the Prussian province of Westphalia, 44 m. by rail to the W.S.W. of Hanover, on the left bank of the Weser. Pop. (1933) 28,646• Minden (Mindun, Mindo), apparently a trading place of some importance in the time of Charlemagne, was made the seat of a bishop by that mon arch, and subsequently joined the Hanseatic League. In the 13th century it was surrounded with walls. In 1648 the bishopric was converted into a secular principality under the elector of Brand enburg. From 1807 to 1814 Minden was included in the king dom of Westphalia, and in the latter year it passed to Prussia. The fortifications were finally demolished in 1873. About 3 m. to the south of Minden is the so-called "Porta Westfalica," a narrow defile by which the Weser quits the mountains. The bishopric of Minden embraced an area of about 400 sq.m. and had about 70,00o inhabitants. The older parts of the town retain their nar row and crooked streets. The cathedral tower dating from the I ith century. illustrates the first step in the growth of the Gothic spire in Germany. The nave was erected at the end of the 13th century, aad the choir in 1377-79. Among the chief edifices are
the old church of St. Martin and the town hall, with a Gothic façade. Its industries include brewing, ship-building and the manufacture of tobacco, glass, soap, chocolate, leather, shoddy, cement and chemicals. There is also some activity in the building of small craft.