I look pretty old, that's true. Especially in the city centre. Around St Paul's Cathedral and Prinzipalmarkt, I flaunt buildings from the time I was founded more than 1,200 years ago as well as magnificent gabled houses from my time as a medieval Hanseatic city. You absolutely have to see all of this! But don't be surprised that everything is a little different here in Münster. More cheerful. More colourful. More cosmopolitan. Because despite my historical backdrop with the old town hall, where world history was written with the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, I have always remained young at heart.
The 65,000 or so students who live here and bring life to the city make sure of that. You meet them everywhere and are right in the centre of things. In the lecture theatre right next to my beautiful city palace. In the small cafés, cosy beer gardens and trendy pubs, on the meadows around the inner-city Aasee lake and in the harbour district, which has developed into a creative hotspot in recent years.
Also, you shouldn't be surprised that hardly anyone drives in my neighbourhood. I confess that I haven't counted every single one, but there are supposedly more bicycles in Münster than inhabitants. Although there are more and more of them. I can understand that and feel a little flattered. Because once you get to know my friendly, open-minded nature, you like me straight away and don't want to leave. We in Münster just know how to enjoy life - and are no longer surprised by anything. Not even about the numerous sculptures that you come across again and again as you stroll through the city. Because every ten years I host the Skulptur Projekte Münster and invite world-famous artists, some of whom always stay here with me.
Speaking of which. A famous Spanish painter has also found a new home in my city centre. In 2000, the first and so far only Picasso Museum was opened in my city centre, which now has an impressive collection. This also applies to the other museums that I can also recommend. These include the LWL Museum of Natural History and the LWL Museum of Art and Culture, whose new building with the "architecture of the courtyards" blends in wonderfully with my historic cityscape. After all, old doesn't mean unfashionable. I am the best proof of that.
