Discover this lively Westphalian center - a city where tradition and the modern age, past and present complement one another harmoniously.

Münster's history begins with Charlemagne and the Missionary Liudger, who founded the settlement on the River Aa in 793. The cityscape, which was almost totally destroyed in a 1943 air raid but rebuilt as virtually an exact replica, dates from the 13th century.

History and charm
Münster uses its character and charm to create a link between tradition and modern lifestyle. In the historical core of the city, its long heritage has remained recognizable. The heart of the city and its main eye-catcher is St. Paul's Cathedral, built over some 40 years on the threshold from Romanesque to Gothic with one of the most lavishly decorated naves in Germany.You'll also be delighted by the Prinzipalmarkt. Lined by houses with pointed roofs and arched pathways, it is one of Europe's most beautiful inner-city squares. Don't miss the Town Hall, the St. Lamberti Church, and the Rathaus (Town Hall) with the historic Hall of Peace, where the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia brought an end to the Thirty Years' War. Also well worth seeing and experiencing are the Aasee Lake and, on its shores, the Mühlenhof Open-air Museum, the All-Weather Zoo, the Museum of Natural History and the Planetarium. All are easily reached by water bus.

Baroque treasures
Also "must" attractions are the splendid Baroque buildings by Johann Conrad Schlaun, Westphalia's great Baroque master builder. His chief work is the Castle (Prince Bishop's Residence), now part of the University. The Erbdrostenhof and the Church of St. Clemens, reminiscent of the Italian Baroque, are further gems of his creative spirit. Together with the Dominican Church they form the "Baroque Island" in the city center.

Münster's museums and theaters offer lively culture, kept vibrant through actors, musicians, writers and artists who all contribute to the cultural Münster mixture. The Museum of Pablo Picasso Graphics, the first and only museum solely dedicated to the graphic works of Pablo Picasso, has been situated in an old city palace on the Königstrasse since the year 2000.

Westphalian cuisine
As one would expect, many hotels and restaurants cater to individuals, couples and families as well as for international congresses. The gastronomy in Münster is active day and night, with more than 900 restaurants and bars from student pubs to upscale restaurants. Typical Münster hospitality is found above all in the Kuhviertel (Cow District) with its small, lovingly restored old pubs that Münster's students have naturally made their favorite haunts. Here young and old sit harmoniously round the scoured wooden tables at which generations of carvers have immortalized themselves, devoting their attention to Münster cuisine and, even more, Münster beer. In Münster, the bicycle rules as the primary and preferred means of transportation and leisure. Many places in and around the city are perfect for spontaneous or extended recovery breaks.

Mediterranean of the North
But it is not only the city itself which is inviting - its immediate surroundings are equally attractive. Münsterland, known as the "Mediterranean of the North," presents park landscapes and typical moated castles that make it a favorite destination for European travellers and, increasingly, for those from overseas.

 
Further Information:
Münster Marketing
Klemensstrasse 10, D-48143 Münster
Phone: +49 (0)251/492 27 10
Fax: +49 (0)251/492 77 43
Email: tourismus[at]stadt-muenster.de
http//www.tourismus.muenster.de