Herford Between Art, Architecture and History
Accommodation in Herford
Herford combines contemporary art and striking museum architecture with a long history of churches and the city. There are also viewpoints and nature close by. When planning your trip, you can first decide whether you mainly want to explore the city’s museums and historic buildings or include places of interest in the wider region as well.
Art and Architecture at Marta Herford
Marta Herford is an internationally oriented museum of contemporary art, with a particular focus on connections with architecture and design. The building itself makes a striking statement: its walls are curved and sloping, and its façade was designed by American architect Frank Gehry. The dynamic spatial volumes make every exhibition a distinctive spatial experience. Here, art and architecture are not only exhibition themes but are also expressed in the form of the museum itself.
If step-free access is important for your plans, two details may be helpful: Herford is an IC/ICE railway station, and Marta Herford is accessible without barriers from the station forecourt. All of the museum’s exhibition and visitor areas can be reached via ramps or a lift.
Church Architecture and City History
Herford Minster was the church of the Imperial Abbey of Herford and the original parish church of Herford. Construction began from 1220 under Abbess Gertrud II of Lippe, over an earlier Ottonian building, in the late Romanesque style. The Minster is considered the first large-scale hall church in northern Germany. High Gothic and Late Gothic additions brought it to the dimensions of a cathedral. At the same time, the Minster served as a model for many churches of the same type and gave important impetus to the spread of Gothic architecture. Those interested in architectural history will find several periods and far-reaching architectural influence united in a single named building.
Another way to explore Herford’s more than 1,200-year history is to visit the Daniel-Pöppelmann-Haus. The building complex includes the Schönfeld villa, built by an entrepreneur, and an exhibition hall added later; the architecture itself is worth a look. At the Municipal Museum, exhibits and media stations offer a varied insight into the city’s history. The Herford Art Association and the museum also invite visitors to enjoy a varied programme of art and history.
Explore the City and Plan Your Time
The scavenger hunt through Herford is an interactive city tour. Participants get to know the city in a playful way while discovering its historical, architectural and cultural aspects. Allow around two to three hours. The “Between Gothic and Gehry” city tour offers another historical perspective: it covers Herford’s founding and development up to the construction of the Marta museum. You can explore the city’s history either in a playful way or through these historical themes.
Views and Nature Nearby
Bismarck Tower stands on the Stuckenberg and is an important historic monument and a popular destination in Herford. From its viewing platform, you can enjoy impressive views across the region. Also close to the destination is the 138-hectare FĂĽllenbruch nature reserve, between the western edge of Herford and Oetinghausen in the municipality of Hiddenhausen. The route of the former narrow-gauge railway from Herford to Enger runs through the protected area; today, it is a popular regional cycling and walking trail. The viewpoint and the trail through the protected area offer different experiences alongside the museums and historic buildings.
More to Explore in the Wider Herford Destination
The wider Herford destination also offers additional landscapes and historical sites. HĂĽcker Moor includes a lake of around twelve hectares, formed by peat extraction in the late 18th century. In Vlotho, the castle was built around 1250 by Heinrich von Oldenburg on Deesberg, now called Amtshausberg. It served to control the Weser and the trade routes that converged in Vlotho. The Hansaweg starts at Herford railway station, initially follows the Werre and then climbs towards Bismarck Tower, with scenic views along the way.
The Wittekindsroute also offers a broader view of the destination: it runs for a total of 143 kilometres through Herford, Bad Salzuflen, Vlotho, Löhne, Kirchlengern, Bünde, Rödinghausen, Spenge and Enger. The route has 24 stops where stories about the region’s development are told.
Discover more destinations: Enger, Löhne, Spenge, Hiddenhausen, Kirchlengern, Vlotho, Sundern, Rödinghausen.
View the main travel overview: Herford.
