Herborn is a historic town and had its first documentary mention in 1048. It was granted the privilege of a city in 1251 by the Counts of Nassau. The city belonged to the County Nassau-Dillenburg.

Herborn's town centre belongs to the best-preserved medieval towns in Germany with about 400 half-timbered houses. Timber from nearby Westerwald was used for their construction. Typical of Herborn (and the region) is the alternation between open half-timbering and slate-clad façades.