Discover Paderborn
Cultural Experiences in Paderborn
Walking through Paderborn is like walking through the centuries. The cityscape unmistakably mirrors the city’s eventful history of more than 1,200 years. The centre alone contains more than twenty historical buildings of all architectural epochs. The reconstructed Ottonian-Salic imperial palace (Kaiserpfalz) to the north of the cathedral was built in the Romanesque period. In front of it, the foundation walls of Charlemagne’s palace can be seen. The Bartholomäuskapelle with its extraordinary acoustics was built in 1017 and is considered to be Germany’s oldest hall church. The influence of the Romanic era can clearly be seen on three churches: the octagonal tower of the Gaukirche, the Abdinghofkirche with its striking twin towers, and the Busdorfkirche with its remarkable cloister from around 1300. The transition from Romanesque to Gothic era is most evident in the cathedral (Dom). Its massive Romanesque tower of 92 m stands in clear contrast to the nave with its Gothic windows and tracery arches. The crypt is the repository of the remains of Saint Liborius, the patron of the city and archbishop-ric. The cloister contains the famous Three-Hares-Window (Drei-Hasen-Fenster), one of the most prominent landmarks of Paderborn.
Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum
The Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum is the world’s largest computer museum and also a vibrant venue for events. Across 6,000 square meters of exhibition space, it presents 5,000 years of the history, present, and future of information technology—from the emergence of numbers and writing in 3,000 B.C. to the computer age of the 21st century. The more than 2,000 objects on display are presented within a broad social and economic historical context, making the exhibition interesting not only to computer specialists. The Forum complements the exhibition with an extensive program of events. Lectures, workshops, and conferences explore the far-reaching influence of information technologies on people and society. In this way, the HNF addresses issues of human orientation and education in the modern information society.
Pader - KulturErbeSiegel
Under the title “City. People. River. – The Pader for Europe”, the city of Paderborn was awarded the European Heritage Label 2025 with the unique urban river landscape of the Pader. Source of life, heritage of water culture, a spectacular headwaters and an impressive history: the Pader - the shortest river in Germany - is only 4.6 kilometres long and offers material for facts and stories of all kinds. Paderborn’s water history is unique. And it is the basis for the people, culture and nature - both in the city itself and as an example for Europe. Find this website for more information.
Town Hall
The first mention of a town hall in Paderborn appears in a document from 1279; however, no details about this building are known. In 1611, on the instructions of Prince-Bishop Dietrich von Fürstenberg, the council decided to replace the then dilapidated town hall with a new building. Hermann Baumhauer, a master builder from Wewelsburg, constructed the new building in the so-called Weser Renaissance style between 1613 and 1620, incorporating an older predecessor building from 1473. As part of an extensive renovation in 1725–26, the large hall on the upper floor was likely also constructed, where theatrical performances, balls, and other festive events took place. After the building was rebuilt, the Registry Office used the ground-floor premises for several decades. With the exception of the wedding room, where civil marriages are typically held on Tuesdays and Fridays, the space is now home to the Family Service Center.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the City Archives were also housed there for a time. The upper floor, with its large and small halls and bay windows, serves primarily as a meeting place for the City Council and its committees. In addition, the large hall is used for the city’s official events, such as receptions or ceremonies. Until its relocation to the Neuhäuser Marstall in 1994, the Natural History Museum was located in the attic.