DIE | FRIEDENSSTADT Welcome to Osnabrück City of Peace Welcome
The market place with its historic buildings Osnabrück – peaceful and cosmopolitan Osnabrück’s political and meet in the olden days: n cultural life is an embodi‐ The “Markt” (market place) has ment of the maxim: “The task remained the heart of the city of peace – committed to hosting weddings, festivals, peace”. After 5 years of nego‐ wine events and the traditional tiations the “Peace of West‐ annual Christmas Market. phalia” that ended the Thirty Its flair is enhanced by the Years’ War was proclaimed on surrounding picturesque and the steps of its Town Hall in historic buildings, such as the 1648. For more than 65 years Town Hall, the “Stadtwaage” local primary school children (city scales), St. Mary's Church have been commemorating this on one side, the colorful event every year with a hobby bougeois houeses with their horse parade. stepped gables on the other Today, people still come togeth‐ side. Just a few steps outside er where merchants used to the market place Osnabrück’s late Romanesque cathedral (St Peter’s Cathedral) overlooks the city’s old town. The European Heritage Label A wonderful mix honors places which played a of historical and central role in the history of Europe modern times such as the Town Hall of the Peace From 1412 to 1669 Osnabrück of Westphalia. was a member of the “Hanse” FOTO: MATTHIAS RETHMANN MATTHIAS FOTO:
2 (Hanseatic League), the most important trading alliance of its time that brought great status and wealth to its member cities. These days, the old trade FINKE-ENNEN C. S. FOTO: routes have turned into pleas‐ ant streets with attractive shops. The mixture of historic quarters and modern architec‐ You can find many green areas in Osnabrück ture is the hallmark of Osna‐ and the region. brück whose status as a University city (almost 27,000 is wide open for cycling and students) completes its long hiking tours as well as for history of Episcopal power. improving your handicap on Osnabrück’s compactness is key one of the many golf courses to its popularity. Whether for scattered in the countryside sightseeing, shopping, strolling surrounding the city. Embedded or studying – a good layout and between the Teutoburg Forest short distances are a plus for all and the “Wiehengebirge”, guests. the green traces of this nature reserve stretch right into A city surrounded Osnabrück’s inner city. by nature Moreover, Osnabrück (165,000 Osnabrück is a member of inhabitants) is very fortunate to the network Historic be located in the middle of a Highlights of Germany nature reserve. With 1,220 (www.historicgermany.com) square kilometres the UNESCO and spans the gap between past and present. Global Geopark TERRA.vita
3 History
Door handle of the Town Hall of the Peace of Westphalia 1,200 years of eventful history
Around the year 780, into a thriving centre for n Charlemagne, king of the commerce in the Middle Ages. Franks, erected a stone church In 1157, Emperor Frederick on the banks of the Hase River Barbarossa granted the city its the nucleus of today’s Osna‐ fortification privileges. Most of brück. The city’s name presum‐ the towers that were part of ably a combination of the Low the medieval fortification can German words Ossen (ox) and still be seen in the city. Brügge (bridge). Being the hub of old trading routes and a bish‐ Osnabrück and the op’s seat, Osnabrück developed Peace of Westphalia From 1412 to 1669, Osnabrück was both a member of the Hanse (Hanseatic League) and FOTO: D. HEESE D. FOTO: of the Westphalian Federation of Cities. Magnificent town houses and other prestigious buildings bear witness to the power and wealth of the medieval merchants. Osna‐ brück became important during the negotiations for the Peace of Westphalia that took place here and in nearby Münster between 1643‐1648. The Peace of Westphalia, proclaimed in One of the fortified towers October 1648, finally ended the Thirty Years’ War and changed
(Bucksturm) FINKE-ENNEN C. S. FOTO:
4 The Felix‐Nussbaum‐House with its special architecture
the face of Europe. While the Catholics used Münster as a venue, the Protestants resided in Osnabrück. Following this time Osnabrück was alternately ruled by Catholic and Protes‐ tant bishops until 1803.
Famous natives of Osnabrück Osnabrück became widely Felix Nussbaum “self‐portrait with easel” known amongst literature lovers through the works of one of its own sons, Erich Maria Remarque (1898‐1970). The Erich Maria Remarque Peace Centre dedicates an exhibition to his life and literary work. Another of the city’s natives is Felix Nussbaum. The artist was born in Osna‐ FOTO: ERICH MARIA REMARQUE-FRIEDENSZENTRUM MARIA ERICH FOTO: brück in 1904 and died in 1944 Erich Maria Remarque Peace Center in Auschwitz. The renowned architect Daniel Libeskind designed the Felix‐Nussbaum‐ CITY Museum as a special place for TIP Nussbaum’s artistic work. The architecture of the building is There is a guided city tour in English every Monday intended as “rooms against at 7 p.m. which starts in the town Oblivion” and captivates visitors hall. Registration is not required. by its unusual interior design. FOTO: UWE LEWANDOWSKI UWE FOTO:
5 Culture
Town Hall of the Peace of Westphalia Old Town Sightseeing Tour