Because of its location at the confluence of the Werra and Fulda rivers Muenden was destined to become an important center of commerce. The prosperity of the city and its business people, shipping brokers and craft and trade people from the past centuries is reflected in the magnificent Weser Renaissance city hall (Rathaus) and the many well preserved half timbered houses.

Am Kirchplatz 4, for example, is the oldest "Küsterhaus"(house no. 561) in Lower Saxony. Built in 1457, the house has well preserved carved wood reliefs on the deep jetties.

During the 30 Years’ War the royal commander Johann Tserclaes Landgrave of Tilly besieged the city and overran it after an intensive bombardment on Pentecost Monday in 1626. Witnesses reported of brutal scenes of large scale murder and plundering, but the houses at least survived the massacre. Tilly established his headquarters in a house on Marktstraße which was built in 1580 and still has to this day the same basic appearance.

The face of the city remained practically unchanged even during the occupation by French troops during the Seven Years War as well as during the 2^nd World War. Minimal damage was incurred during the war in an attack on Black Friday 1945 in which bombs fell on houses Am Plan, in Wilhelmstraße and in Böttcherstraße.