"Paderborn" Top 5 Page for this destination Paderborn by Kathrin_E

Paderborn Travel Guide: 72 reviews and 279 photos

Rathausplatz

Paderborn has been the seat of a Bishop since the early middle ages. The diocese was founded by Charlemagne in 799 when the king and Pope Leo III met in this very location to negotiate the modalities of the coronation as emperor, which then took place at Christmas 800 in Rome.

The city has suffered severe damages during World War II. Only a few weeks before the end of the war, on March 27, 1945 the heaviest air raid hit the city. The resulting firestorm reduced the centre to ashes and rubble and killed a lot of people. Not much is left of old Paderborn. The churches and a few other old buildings have been repaired or rebuilt.

1200th anniversary, stamp of 1999

Paderborn’s image is being the most catholic of all catholic cities in Germany. In recent decades, with World War II refugees coming, the new university and generally more mobility among the population, things have changed and opened up. Anyway, you will still notice the predominance of the catholic faith when walking the streets of the old town, not only from the number of churches and monasteries.

What impressed me most, apart from the cathedral, was the landscape around the Pader springs. Several dozens of springs open up right downhill from the cathedral, in the middle of the city, and spit out an enormous amount of water. The Pader is Germany's shortest river but definitely not its smallest. From the beginning it qualifies as river, not as creek or stream. Running water adds a lot to the flair of a place and here we have a lot of it. The springs are set in stone basins and made part of a nice park area.

Last visit to Paderborn: Sep 2010
Intro Updated Sep 18, 2010
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Reviews (27)

Adam-und-Eva-Haus in Hathumarstraße - Paderborn

Adam and Eve House Things to Do (22)

World War II bombs spared one single block of old Paderborn, North of the Dom behind the Pader springs, in... more travel advice

Bartholomäus Chapel Things to Do (22)

The chapel between Dom and Pfalz was erected under Bishop Meinwerk in the first quarter of the 11th century. Rumours... more travel advice

Dom - The Chapel for the Victims of... Things to Do (22)

The little chapel at the far end of the cloister on the way to the three hares window is dedicated to the victims of... more travel advice

Rathaus - City Hall Things to Do (22)

The historical city hall still is the centre of the city's administration. The renaissance façade with its three gables... more travel advice

Local Customs (1)
Bikes like taking a bath
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Comments (2)

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CatherineReichardt Nov 27, 2012 at 7:26 AM

Hi Kathrin
What a magical page! I confess that Ihad little idea of what to expect of Paderborn, but whatever my expectations were, they fell far short of your account!
I particularly loved your tip on fashions for the clergy and as for the tip about Germany's shortest river - well, that's exactly the sort of tip I'd have liked to have written for myself (and I look forward to ground truthing it at some point in the future)!
Regards
Cathy
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german_eagle Sep 18, 2010 at 10:59 AM

Had to have a look right away. OMG, that campus is depressing. Must be torture to study there. But the Local Customs Tip cracked me up! ;-) Amazing churches in this city. Nice updates here, too.