Münster: City History, Art and Lake Aasee

Münster combines historic urban spaces with art, museums and a large recreational area in the heart of the city. The main railway station is centrally located and offers IC, EC and ICE connections. For your specific travel plans, check the current connections. Many of Münster’s sights are easily reached on foot from Prinzipalmarkt; the square is a useful reference point if you want to focus your stay on the city centre.

Old Town and History

The restored Old Town features houses, churches and squares that tell stories spanning several centuries. Characteristic gabled houses and arcades shape the scene at Prinzipalmarkt. It is the city’s historic economic and political centre. The town hall also represents Münster’s history: on 15 April 2015, it was awarded the European Heritage Label as a “Site of the Peace of Westphalia”.

St Paul’s Cathedral is the largest church in Westphalia. Inside the cathedral is an almost 500-year-old astronomical clock. Together with the town hall and Prinzipalmarkt, these places offer different historical points of reference in the city centre, from church architecture and its furnishings to political history and the architecture of the gabled houses.

Museums, Theatre and Art

More than 30 museums invite you to explore Münster. A special destination for art lovers is the Kunstmuseum Pablo Picasso Münster: it is Germany’s only Picasso museum and houses the world’s largest collection of Pablo Picasso lithographs. The Kunsthalle Münster offers a different architectural setting. Since 2004, it has been located on the top floor of Speicher II, a historic industrial building in the city harbour.

The LWL Museum of Art and Culture presents 1,000 years of art, from the early Middle Ages to the present day. On stage, Theater Münster brings together five disciplines under one roof: music theatre, drama, children’s and youth theatre, dance theatre and the symphony orchestra. The cultural offerings thus range from collections and exhibitions to different forms of theatre and music.

Sculptures and Cycling Tours

Skulptur Projekte Münster has taken place every ten years since 1977; many of the works shown continue to shape the cityscape today. There are also numerous sculptures around Lake Aasee, created by internationally renowned artists specifically for the four major sculpture exhibitions held between 1977 and 2007. You can encounter art in public spaces in a variety of contexts.

If you want to explore Münster by bike, there are several types of tours. A series of cycling tours in and around Münster covers about 121 kilometres in total; all tours start and finish at the bike station at the main railway station. The Skulpt(o)ur route covers about 42 kilometres in total. Six tours ranging from 2 to 14 kilometres lead to a total of 64 sculptures. The distances provided help distinguish the series of tours from the shorter individual routes of the Skulpt(o)ur. Check route details before setting off.

Lake Aasee and Routes through the City

Lake Aasee is Münster’s most central recreational area. Scenic paths invite you to walk, cycle and inline skate there. With boat rentals, a sailing school and two sailing clubs, there are also ways to explore the lake from the water. Whether you prefer to spend time along the shore or are interested in activities on the water, the lake offers various ways to enjoy the outdoors.

The Promenade offers another perspective on getting around Münster. The car-free route is lined with a double row of lime trees and is an important transport artery for people travelling on foot, by bike or on inline skates. Lake Aasee and the Promenade each bring different ways of getting around into focus.

Westphalian Cuisine and Local Specialities

Münster’s culinary offerings include Töttchen, pumpernickel and Westphalian bone-in ham. Culinary city tours are another way to explore the city’s cuisine. The cheese and beer pairing combines five selected cheeses with a range of Finne craft beers. Check the dates and booking options for this experience before your trip. The Hafenkäserei produces handmade organic cheese specialities.

Planning Your Stay

Prinzipalmarkt is a reference point for many sights that are easily reached on foot from there; the main railway station is centrally located and offers the long-distance connections mentioned above. If art, museums, Lake Aasee or cycling tours are a priority, you can take these interests into account when choosing where to stay.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Münster, Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, Düren, Hamm, Märkischer Kreis, Bielefeld, Steinfurt.

Back to the main travel overview: North Rhine-Westphalia.