Münster, Germany
Page 3
Continued from page 2
ABOVE: The Dom was built in the 13th Century and
was restored after being bombed in
World War II.
Münster sightseeing
 Nearly
all of Münster's important sights are within the Altstadt or old town,
which is encircled by the Promenade (a narrow green belt with bicycle and
walking paths that replaced the old medieval walls in the late 1700s). The
comprehensive Münster City Guide, which is described on our
Tourist Information page, will
help you get oriented and decide what to see. Some of the more important sights
include:
 The
Dom, also known as
St-Paulus Cathedral, which was built in the 13th
Century. Look for the astronomical clock, a mechanical device from the
late Middle Ages that puts on a daily show at noon (12:30 p.m. on Sundays and
holidays). The cathedral was heavily damaged in World War II, and a chapel
contains the smashed bells that fell down from the tower in the bombing of
October 28, 1944. You can also see photos of the ravaged building as it looked
before being restored in the 1950s.
 The
old Rathaus, or city hall, with its
Friedensaal where the
Westphalian Peace was signed in 1648 to end the 30 Years War. The 14th Century
building was badly damaged by incendiary bombs in World War II, but the interior
of the Friedensaal had been removed at the beginning of the war and was returned
to the building after reconstruction.
The Prinzipalmarkt, a street of arcaded buildings in the
middle of the old town's lively and prosperous shopping district.
The Lambertikirche, a.k.a. the Church of St. Lamberti,
with its three "Anabaptist cages" where the corpses of three executed Anabapist
leaders were hung in the 16th Century. (Cardinal von Galen, who publicly opposed
Hitler's euthanasia policy and secret-police terror tactics, gave his anti-Nazi
speeches here in World War II.)
 The
Erbdrostenhof and the tiny
Clemenskirche next door, which were
built in the mid-1700s and have been described as an "island of Baroque" in the
medieval plan of the old town.
The Schloss, or castle,
which lies just outside the western edge of the Altstadt and is now the seat of Münster's university. The
Westfälische
Wilhelms-Universität Münster is the third-largest uni in Germany,
with about 39,000 students (including more than 3,500 from abroad).
The
Aasee, a narrow urban lake southwest of the old town, which offers boat
rides in summer. A park along the lake contains the Mühlenhof
open-air museum, a natural history museum and planetarium, and the
Altwetterzoo.
 The
Hafen, or harbor, which is beyond the railroad station and is home to the
Kreativkai, a restored warehouse district with clubs, restaurants, and
trendy businesses such as publishing houses and advertising agencies. Boats
connect the harbor with Dortmund via the Dortmund-Ems-Kanal.
Sculptures
 Münster
has 57 major works of sculpture scattered about town. Ask the tourist office for
a copy of Sculptures in
Münster. The brochure shows where to find works by international artists
such as Claes Oldenburg's Pool Balls (see inset photo), Jorge Pardo's
Pier on the Aasee, and one of our own favorites,
Die
Überfrau or Superwoman by
Tom Otterness, which is next to the city library.
Guided tours
Münster Information offers daily
guided walking tours of the Altstadt from 11 a.m. to
1 p.m. year-round. (No advance booking required.) The official language is
German, but if you're lucky, the guide may provide highlights in English.
Depending on the month and day of
the week, other walking tours, taxi and bus tours, and other itineraries may be
offered for
individuals and groups. One of the
most popular walks is the "Night-Watchman's Tour," a blend of history and
theatre led by a costumed watchman with a lantern.
Specialized tours in English or Dutch are subject to demand, so
it's a good idea to inquire (and, if possible, reserve) ahead of time. Check the
listings at
Stadt-Lupe Münster to learn what will be on the
calendar during your visit.
Next page:
Museums in Münster
Photos: Presseamt Stadt Münster.
Top photo by Tilman Rossmöller; Rathaus and Hafen
photos by Joachim Busch.
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