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Walking tours in Münster

Tour of the old town

A stroll around the old town of Münster is a varied walk, starting out mostly at the Cathedral Square. On it goes to the Prinzipalmarkt, the parlour of Münster. Three landmarks typical of Münster are concentrated here: the historical town-hall with its Hall of Peace, St. Lamberti's Church with the Baptists' cages, and the characteristically gabled houses with the colonnades where buyers are attracted by exquisite shops.

From the Prinzipalmarkt, you can reach many of the important tourist features of Münster comfortably by foot: the Krameramtshaus, the modern municipal library, and the so-called baroque island with the Erbdrostenhof as well as St. Clemens' and the Dominican church.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

Weekly market on the Cathedral Square

increaseWeekly market on the Cathedral Square

The cathedral in its present shape is essentially a creation of the 13th century. Particularly recommendable is the astronomical clock, a marvel of the late Middle Ages the calendar of which reaches into the year 2071 (carillon and revolving of the Magi, from Mondays to Saturdays at 12 o’ clock, on high and holidays at 12:30). A few steps away from the clock, there is the sepulchral chapel of Clemens August Cardinal von Galen, the “Lion of Münster”. Pope John Paul II prayed here in 1987 A memorial stone recalls this event even today. The cathedral treasury is worth a visit as well. Art and culture of the cathedral from twelve centuries are on display here, making it one of the most eminent treasuries in Europe with its art objects of gold work and fabric (Tuesdays to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

The great weekly market takes place in the shadow of the cathedral of Münster every Wednesday and Saturday forenoon.

St. Paul’s Cathedral
Domplatz

Prinzipalmarkt

Prinzipalmarkt

increaseA view to the Prinzipalmarkt

Münster’s Prinzipalmarkt is a piece of living town history, telling tales from the Middle Ages, the Hanseatic League, and the ancient merchant families that in part pursue their businesses even today.

The square with its characteristic gabled houses and colonnades is Münster’s economical and political centre, and it's rich in tradition. The historical town-hall with its Hall of Peace is located here. Numerous exclusive shops and catering businesses are residing here as well.

A major part of Münster's city life is happening on the Prinzipalmarkt: here, guests of state are welcomed, festivals are celebrated, with people strolling, shopping and enjoying life.

And it’s not just the citizens of Münster thinking that the Prinzipalmarkt is one of the most beautiful squares in Germany. In 2006, it achieved the fourth position in the ZDF feature “Unsere Besten - Die Lieblingsorte der Deutschen“ (“Our best - the Germans’ favourite places”).

St. Lamberti’s Church

St. Lamberti’s Church

increaseSt. Lamberti’s Church

St. Lamberti’s Market and Town Church is located where the Roggenmarkt (rye market) and Alter Fischmarkt (old fish market) lead to the Prinzipalmarkt. However, the hall church, which was built between 1375 and 1450, owes its high profile neither to the unusual relief of the Root of Jesse cresting the main portal nor to the fact that here, Cardinal von Galen preached his bold sermons during the Nazi era, but rather to the gruesome history of the three cages attached to the spire. That’s because the corpses of the three Baptist movement leaders were hung here in the mid-16th century.

St. Lamberti accomodates the “loftiest charge office“ in Münster, the Türmerstube (chamber of the tower keeper). A tower keeper is mentioned for the first time in records of 1481. After several interruptions, Münster has been having a tower keeper again since 1950, whose copper bugle can be heard every night (9-12 p.m. on the half-hour, except Tuesdays).

St. Lamberti’s Church
Lambertikirchplatz

The complete tour of the old town for printing-out:


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