Münster's history begins with the Frisian monk Liudger, dispatched on a mission by order of the Emperor Charlemagne (Charles the Great) tofounded a monastery. The cityscape was almost totally destroyed in a 1943 air raid but rebuilt as virtually an exact replica of how the city looked in the 13th century.

 

A short chronicle of Münster

793: Münster's official founding. The Frisian monk Liudger, dispatched on mission by order of the Emperor Charlemagne (Charles the Great), founded a monasterium (cloister) to which Münster today thanks its name.

805: Liudger is consecrated as Bishop. The settlement receives the standing of a civitas (city).

12th century: Following the construction of six parish churches and the city wall, the medieval city was extended in the form of a promenade ring, still recognizable today.

14th-16th century: Münster attains considerable importance as a Hanse city.

1532 and later: Following the violent introduction of the Reformation, the Anabaptist war raged in Münster. In 1628 the last Protestants were expelled from Münster.

1643 - 1648: The Westphalian Peace is negotiated in Münster and Osnabrück, ending the Thirty Year War. At the same time, the sovereignty of the Netherlands is recognized with the signing of the Spanish-Netherlands Peace.

1806 - 1815: Münster is under Napoleon's reign and, by means of the Vienna Congress in 1815 is ceded once again to Prussia. With 19,000 citizens, Münster is the largest city in the province of Westphalia and becomes the capital city.

1870 and later: Münster continues to grow into a large city. The incorporation of communities in the years 1875 and 1903 speeds up this development. In 1899 the city harbor and the connection to the Dortmund-Ems canal are put into operation. By 1903 the population of Münster has already reached 77,000.

1907: Kaiser Wilhelm awards the university the name of Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität and pays a visit to Münster.

1939 - 1945: The city is almost entirely destroyed during Second World War, destruction being more than 90 percent within the Promenade Ring.

1945 and later: Rebuilding the city focuses primarily on historical layouts and buildings.

1955 - 1971: By the middle of 1955 the city has already more living accommodation than before the war. In 1971, 19,000 students are registered in Münster.

1977: Münster opens its Exhibition of Sculpture. World-famous artists meet here every ten years to display their latest works of art. Münster's exhibition of scultpture is one of the most important contemporary exhibitions in Germany. Many of the works on dispay still leave their mark on the city's appearance today.

1993: Münster celebrates its 1200-year city jubilee.

2004: Münster receives the LivCom Award 2004, presented by the United Nations  Environment Programm (UNEP), among others, for the best city in the world to live in.

2005: 1200th anniversary of the Diocese of Münster.

2007: Sculpture Projects Münster 2007. From 16 June to 30 September, international artists will base their work on the idea of Münster as a place for experiments and will reflect the city's squares and buildings and its history and conditions.

Today
Münster, with 278,740 citizens, is the upper center for approximately 1.5 million people from the surrounding Münsterland and one of the five governing headquarters in North Rhine-Westphalia. There are 50,000 students, providing a constant influx of of young people from all around the world.