10 reasons to visit Münster
Münster in North Rhine-Westphalia is known for its pretty old town center. And because it seems everyone moves from A to B by bike. Here are ten reasons to visit Münster.
The bicycle capital
The bike business is booming in Germany's bicycle capital: For every 300,000 inhabitants there are almost twice as many bicycles in Münster. The reason for the enthusiasm is surely also the bicycle-friendly traffic layout with cycle paths, bicycle traffic lights and bicycle roads. A tip for tourists: Rent a bicycle at the bike station at the train station and cycle through the city.
The Prinzipalmarkt shopping street
The first stop on a sightseeing tour is the Prinzipalmarkt in the old town. It was heavily bombed during the Second World War - but later rebuilt in such a way that its historical character was preserved. At the merchants' houses from the Hanseatic era, no two gables are alike. In the background you can see the late Gothic church of St. Lamberti.
The tower keeper
Martje Saljé has her workplace at the very top of the tower of the St. Lamberti church. She is the current tower keeper of Münster - a job that has existed since the 16th century. Between 9 pm and midnight she blows into her copper horn every half hour. In the past, the tower keeper was supposed to warn the city of fires and enemies, but today it is more of a tourist attraction.
The Peace of Westphalia
The town hall with the Peace Hall is also located at the Prinzipalmarkt. Here negotiations were held for the Peace of Westphalia, which brought the Thirty Years' War to an end in 1648. In this room the Spanish-Dutch peace was proclaimed - which in turn marked the birth of the Netherlands. Most of the foreign tourists to Münster today come from the nearby Netherlands.
St Paul's Cathedral
One of Münster's landmarks is St. Paul's Cathedral from the 13th century. It was also hit by bombs during the Second World War and severely damaged. With great public commitment, the reconstruction was successfully completed in 1956. Münster is a Catholic bishopric.
The Universities
In Münster there are almost 60,000 students who enhance the city with fresh ideas and party life. The buildings of the nine universities are spread all over Münster. The main building of the Westphalian Wilhelms University is particularly magnificent: The Prince-Bishop's Palace Münster was constructed in 1787 as Germany's last large Baroque residence.
The Botanical Garden
Just behind the castle is the Botanical Garden, which is more than 200 years old. With 8,000 plant species, heath and moorland landscapes and ten greenhouses, the 4.6 hectare complex is a green oasis in the heart of the city. The garden was once part of the castle complex. Today it belongs to the medical faculty and offers teaching material for herbal medicine.
The Horses
In Münster's surroundings there are more horses than almost anywhere else in Europe. Horse breeding and horse-riding play an important role here. A winner's tournament is held in front of the castle once a year. Equestrians from all over the world then come to participate in show jumping and dressage competitions. By the way, Münster also has Germany's oldest riding club.
The television crime shows
Münster is a popular location for German TV whodunits, for example for the crime series "Tatort", which is set in various German cities. Here Jan Josef Liefers and Axel Prahl playing inspectors Boerne and Thiel can be seen investigating at Münster's city harbor. The successful crime series Wilsberg also takes place in Münster.
The Aasee Lake
Situated in the middle of the city, the artificially constructed Aasee Lake offers great leisure and recreational possibilities: surrounded by a 90 hectare park, with cafés on the shore and a solar-powered ferry that crosses the lake once an hour. A good idea is to rent a boat and sail into the sunset!