Travel tips: Münster, Germany

Two and a half hours east of Utrecht over the Dutch/German border is Münster, a 1200 year old medieval city in West-phalia north Rhine.  It’s known for the 13th-century St. Paulus Dom cathedral, built in the Gothic and Romanesque styles. Prinzipalmarkt square is framed by gabled houses, a beautiful Gothic city hall and late medieval St. Lamberti Church. 

 

The St. Lamberti Catholic late Gorthic church on the Prinzipal square is famous for its iron cages hanging on its steeple above the clock.  500 years ago they held the mutilated, rotten corpses of three revolutionaries who led one of the most brutal Protestant revolutions in history. 

Further along the main street away from the church with terraces lining the avenue and chic shops under arched walkways, is a lovely square and the famous Rathaus, meaning City Hall. 

 

 

Rathaus / City Hall 

 

The building next to it  

The Schloss Münster palace, is the university and this is fitting as with its 39k population, Münster is a student city.  It is lively with bicycles, beer huts and cafes, a few squares, many step transport  "bikes" and has a lovely old vs modern feel to it.  The old centre is completely cobble stoned, there are few churches all within short walking distance and the real estate includes well kept decorative monumental houses on the outskirts.  There is a Pablo Picasso Art Museum which we didn't visit but rather enjoyed sitting on the one of a few terraces in the spring sun after stepping inside all of the open churches to admire the artistic views. 

 

 

In Germany and Austria there are always these beautiful wrought iron name boards 

One of the squares

 There is a always a Christmas market on the large square in front of the St Paulus Dom and it must be awfully cosy in winter with the old lanterns lining the cobble stoned streets and the busyness of xmas shoppers.

The St Paulus Dom is really big and beautiful.  Its doors are a master piece as are the incredible stone carvings and sculptures.  In front on the square was a large herb and vegetable market plus lunch terrace in the middle.  

                                                        Below, inside on one of the pillars

 

Replica of the church towers on the city floor drain shield outside with year 805

 

There is a lovely park on the way to the old centre, past a large landmark water or lookout  port. In the city there is also a stream and green path walk alongside it.  All in all a lovely little city with some cute winding shopping streets as well. 

On the way to Munster, there were lovely yellow bright fields of rape seed and we stopped for a coffee break in the small little village of Boscholt which had a flower and vegetable market on the main square in front of it's cathedral. So... happy travelling.... lots to see!