Brakel lies at the midpoint of the district of Höxter between the Eggegebirge and the Weser in the Oberwälder Land nature area in the old Saxon region of Nethegau.

The Heggedörfer, along with the town of Gehrden, were amalgamated into the greater community of Brakel after the old district of Warburg was dissolved.

Idyllically set in the Oese Valley on the eastern slopes of the Eggegebirge, Gehrden is said to be a tourism destination.

After a brief period of French rule in Napoleonic times, the district seat had to be yielded permanently to Höxter in 1832.

On 1 January 1970, the formerly independent communities of Beller, Bellersen, Bökendorf, Erkeln, Hembsen, Hinnenburg, Istrup, Rheder, Riesel and Schmechten merged with the town.

The formerly independent communities of Auenhausen, Frohnhausen, Hampenhausen and Siddessen, along with the town of Gehrden were made parts of Brakel.

There was talk at the time of making Brakel the new district seat, its central location being seen as a point in its favour.

The town's development strong points today are as follows: Brakel's Hanseatic roots go back to its early history and stretch through the Middle Ages.

From the first written reference to "villa brechal" in 836 (in connection with transferring Saint Vitus's bones from Saint Denis, France, to Corvey) through to the 12th century, when it was the seat of the Lords of Brakel, the town found itself centrally located by virtue of two old commercial roads that crossed here.

Long-distance traders thereby had a decisive share in Brakel's development, being as they were part of the leading class in many Westphalian towns.

Bearing witness to these Hanseatic activities are Brakel coins showing up in Baltic Sea towns at the time (15th century).

The Hansetage are made attractive and informative to visitors with interesting cultural, touristic and sporting events (parades, farmers', craftsmen's and merchants market, theatre, evening events) Town council's 34 seats are apportioned as follows, in accordance with municipal elections held on 13 September 2021: Note: CWG is a citizens' coalition.

On the south side of the Town Hall is found an armorial stone, believed to be from the 16th century, that only shows the Lords' arms.

The town's banner is striped green and white lengthwise with the coat of arms in the middle of the upper half.

The station is served by, among others, hourly trains from the "Egge-Bahn" (Paderborn - Holzminden), run by the NordWestBahn belonging to Transdev.

The Annentag in Brakel is the biggest church fair in the Weserbergland, held every year on the weekend of the first Sunday in August.