Paderborn: Pader Springs, History and Discoveries

Discover Paderborn through its water, history and technology: More than 200 Pader springs rise in the city center. The Pader also rises in Paderborn and is considered Germany’s shortest river. The Pader spring area below the cathedral and Abdinghof is protected as a historic garden. The springs therefore represent not only the landscape but also provide a point of reference for the city’s history.

Pader Springs and Historic Sites

At the Pader springs, Pope Leo III and the Frankish king Charlemagne met at the site of today’s cathedral. A large church dedicated to Christ as Salvator Mundi (Savior of the World) already stood there at the time. It was destroyed shortly afterward in a city fire and rebuilt. The relics of Saint Liborius, patron saint of the archdiocese and the city, are kept in the cathedral crypt.

The museum in the Imperial Palace presents the history of Paderborn and Westphalia from the 6th to the 12th century. One of its main subjects is Charlemagne’s palace: Charlemagne had it built above the Pader springs in 777. It was the first and only palace he built in Saxony. The reconstructed Ottonian-Salian palace features chapels and a unique spring cellar. Its architecture and historical period give the visit a different focus from the city’s development in later centuries.

The Bartholomew Chapel also offers something distinctive: It is considered the oldest known hall church on German soil and is impressive for its special acoustics. The Paderborn City Museum covers topics ranging from the earliest prehistoric and early historic settlements to questions about the city’s present and future. It includes the cloister and garden of Abdinghof Monastery, founded by Bishop Meinwerk in 1015/16.

From City History to Information Technology

The Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum is described as the world’s largest computer museum and has 6,000 square meters of exhibition space. Its permanent exhibition spans 5,000 years of the past, present and future of information technology, from cuneiform writing, calculating and typewriting machines to the internet and robotics. Visitors can use telephones from earlier times, try historical and new computer games, and talk to Max, a virtual character. When planning a visit with children, the distinction between historical topics and hands-on activities can help guide your choice: What kind of discovery appeals most to your family?

Schloß Neuhaus and Routes Through the City

Schloß Neuhaus, a former prince-bishop’s residence in the Paderborn district of the same name, is one of Westphalia’s most significant Renaissance moated castles. The Baroque garden was recreated for the 1994 State Garden Show, based on an original 18th-century plan. A combined cycling and city tour offered by the City of Paderborn begins with a walk through the historic city center, then continues by bicycle along the Pader through green meadows and floodplains to Schloß Neuhaus and its Baroque garden.

Those interested in the history of the residence can also plan to join a public tour of Schloß Neuhaus titled “Residence of the Prince-Bishops.” The Paderborn Tourist Information Office offers it several times a year; it can also be booked for a date of your choice. For exploring at your own pace, a self-guided city walk is available, with classic directions and a city-center map showing the route. This lets you choose between guided options and exploring the city independently.

The Right Accommodation for Your Paderborn Trip

These highlights offer different ways to shape your trip. First decide which experiences matter most to you and your family; then you can search more specifically for suitable accommodation.

Discover more destinations: Nesthausen, Borchen, Barkhausen, Bad Lippspringe, Bad Wünnenberg, Herbram, Lichtenau, Altenbeken.

For the main travel overview: Paderborn.