Münster

2007-04-18T19:23:51Z

85.211.183.190: /* External links */

{{Infobox Town DE|
name = Münster|
name_local = |
image_coa = Stadtwappen der kreisfreien Stadt Münster.svg|
image_map = Lage der kreisfreien Stadt Münster in Deutschland.png|
state = [[North Rhine-Westphalia]] |
regbzk = [[Münster (region)|Münster]]|
district = [[List of German urban districts|urban district]]|
population = 270,868|
population_as_of = 2005|
population_ref = [http://www.lds.nrw.de/statistik/datenangebot/Regionen/amtlichebevoelkerungszahlen/rp5_dez05.html source]|
pop_dens = 892|
area = 302.79|
elevation = 60|
lat_deg = 51|
lat_min = 58|
lat_hem = N|
lon_deg = 7|
lon_min = 38|
lon_hem = E|
postal_code = 48143-48167 |
area_code = 0251|
licence = MS|
mayor = Berthold Tillmann ([[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|CDU]])|
website = [http://www.muenster.de/ muenster.de]|
}}
{{dablink|For other places with the same or similar names, and other uses of the word, see [[Munster (disambiguation)]]}}

'''Münster''' is a city in [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], [[Germany]]. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the [[Westphalia]] region. It is most well known as the location of the [[Anabaptist]] rebellion during the [[Protestant Reformation]] and as the site of the signing of the [[Treaty of Westphalia]] ending the [[Thirty Years' War]] in [[1648]]. Its [[bishop]]s held temporary power for many centuries.

==History==
[[Image:Muenster Braun-Hogenberg.jpg|thumb|center|800px|View from the south-west of Münster in 1570 as seen by Remius Hogenberg. On the left is the Überwasserkiche, in the center is St. Pauls Cathedral and to its right St Lamberts Church, and on the far right is the Ludgerikirche]]
In [[793]] [[Charlemagne]] sent out as missionary the [[Frisians|Frisian]] [[Ludger|Liudger]] (later canonized) to convert the [[Saxons]] with whom he had been battling, offering as headquarters his recently demolished Frankish stronghold of '''Mimigernaford''' ("ford over the Aa river"), at the crossroads of the road from [[Cologne]] and the road to Frisia. Liudger was a product of Utrecht and the York school of [[Ethelbert of York|Ethelbert]], which produced many of the clerics who served in Charlemagne's chancelry. He built his church and cloister on the right bank of the Aa, on the height called the ''Horsteberg'': it was the monastery ("monasterium") from which Münster derives its name. In 805 Liudger travelled to Rome to be ordained the first [[bishop of Münster]], and soon founded a school (The [http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnasium_Paulinum Gymnasium Paulinum] is believed to have been founded as the monastery school in 797). The combination of ford and crossroad, marketplace, episcopal administration center, library and school, established Münster as an important center [http://www.kirchensite.de/index.php?myELEMENT=78003].

In the [[Middle Ages]] Münster was a leading member of the [[Hanseatic League]]. In [[1534]] the [[Anabaptist]]s took power in the [[Münster Rebellion]] and founded a democratic proto-socialistic state. The town was recaptured in [[1535]]; the Anabaptists were tortured to death, their corpses were exhibited in cages, which can still be seen hanging on the Tower of St. Lamberti's steeple.

The signing of the [[Peace of Westphalia]] of [[1648]] at Münster and [[Osnabrück]] ended the [[Thirty Years' War]] and was one of the foundations upon which modern Europe was built. It also guaranteed the future of the prince-bishop and the diocese; the area was to be exclusively [[Roman Catholic]].

[[Image:MuensterHistorischesRathaus80.JPG|thumb|right|160px|Town Hall in the Prinzipalmarkt]]
In [[1780]] the [[University of Münster]] (today called "Westphalian Wilhelms-University", ''WWU'') was established, now a major European centre for excellence in education and research with large faculties in the arts, humanities, theology, sciences, business and law. Currently there are about 40,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students enrolled. In [[1802]] Münster was conquered by [[Prussia]] during the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. It became the capital of the Prussian province of [[Westphalia]]. A century later in [[1899]] the city's harbour started operations when the city was linked to the [[Dortmund-Ems Canal]]. With the spread of radio technology, in [[1924]] the radio and television organisation [[Westdeutscher Rundfunk]] (WDR) was set up in Münster's harbour area.

===World War II===
During [[World War II]] Münster was maintained as the headquarters (Hauptsitz) for the 6th Military District (Wehrkreis) of the German Wehrmacht, under the command of Infantry General (General der Infanterie) [[Gerhard Glokke]]. Originally made up of [[Westphalia]] and the [[Rhineland]], after the [[Battle of France]] it was expanded to include the [[Eupen]] - [[Malmedy]] district of [[Belgium]]. The headquarters controlled military operations in Münster, [[Essen]], [[Dusseldorf]], [[Wuppertal]], [[Bielefeld]], [[Coesfeld]], [[Paderborn]], [[Herford]], [[Minden]], [[Detmold]], [[Lingen]], [[Osnabruck]], [[Recklinghausen]], [[Gelsenkirchen]], and [[Cologne]].

Münster was the home station for the VI and XXIII Infantry Corps (Armeekorps), as well as the XXXIII and LVI [[Panzerkorps]]. Münster was also the home of the 6th, 16th and 25th [[Panzer Divisions]]; the 16th [[Panzergrenadier]] Division; and the 6th, 26th, 69th, 86th 106th, 126th, 196th, 199th, 211th, 227th, 253rd, 254th, 264th, 306th, 326th, 329th, 336th, 371st, 385th, and 716th Infantry Divisions (Infanterie-division). Thanks to its military presence, Münster was a guaranteed Allied target. About 91% of the Old City and 63% of the entire city was destroyed by Allied air raids. In the 1950's the Old City was rebuilt to match its pre-war state, though many of the surrounding buildings were replaced with cheaper modern structures.

The Bishop of Münster in the 1940's was Cardinal [[Clemens August Graf von Galen]], one of the most prominent critics of the Nazi government. In retaliation for his success, Münster was heavily garrisoned during WWII and five large complexes of barracks are a still resented feature of the city.

===Postwar Period===
[[Image:Muenster,Prinzipalmarkt06.jpg|thumb|right|160px|Münster: the Prinzipalmarkt with St Lambert's church]]
From 1974 onward, the city was the residence of the American artist [[Moondog]], an eccentric individual who idolized postwar Germany. In [[2003]], Münster hosted the [[Central European Olympiad in Informatics]]. In [[2004]], Münster won an honorable distinction: the LivCom-Award for the most livable city in the world with a population between 200,000 and 750,000. For more information about the honour, see the [http://www.muenster.de/stadt/umwelt/pdf/livcom2004.pdf leaflet (.pdf)] and the 10-minute [[DivX]] coded film: [http://www.muenster.de/stadt/umweltamt/livcom/livcom2004_320.avi the 48mb-version] or [http://www.muenster.de/stadt/umweltamt/livcom/livcom2004.avi the 87mb-version] from the official Münster-homepage.

==Sights==
*St Paul's Cathedral, built in the 13th century in a mixture of late Romanesque and early Gothic styles. It has been completely restored after WWII damage. It includes an astronomical clock of 1540, adorned with hand-painted zodiac symbols, which traces the movement of the planets, and plays a Glockenspiel tune every noon.
[[Image:Bild Muenster St Paulus-Dom.jpg|thumb|300px|St Paul's Cathedral, Münster]]
*The ''Prinzipalmarkt'', the marketplace in the city centre with the Gothic town hall (14th century) in which the [[Peace of Westphalia]] treaty which put an end to the [[Thirty Years' War]] was signed in 1648.
*St Lambert's Church (1375), with three cages hanging from its tower above the clock face. In 1535 these cages were used to display the corpses of [[Jan van Leiden]] and other leaders of the [[Münster Rebellion]], who promoted polygamy and renunciation to all property.
*The ''Schloss'' (palace), built 1767-87 as residence for the prince-bishops, now the administrative centre for the University.
*"Münster Arkaden" (2006), new shopping centre between Prinzipalmarkt and the Pablo Picasso Museum of Graphic Art.
*The fortress "Zwinger", build 1528. Used from the 18th to the 20th century as a prison. During World War II, the [[Gestapo]] used the "Zwinger" also for executions.
*"Krameramtshaus" (1589), an old guild house, which housed the delegation from the Netherlands during the signing of the [[Peace of Westphalia]].
*Signal-Iduna Building (1961), the first high-rise building in Münster.
*LVM-Building, high-rise building near the Aasee.
*LBS-Building, location of Münsters first zoo. Some old structures of the former zoo can be found in the park around the office building. Also the "Tuckesburg", the strange looking house of the zoo-founder, is still intact.
*"Cavete", the oldest academic pub in Münster
*Haus Rüschhaus (1757)
*Stadthaus (1773)
*Erbdrostenhof (1755)
*Wasserschloss Wilkinghege (moated castle)

== Museums ==
* University Geology and Palaentology Museum, exhibiting several important finds, housed in an old city palace
* Westphalian State Museum of Art and Cultural History
* University bible museum
* City Museum ("Stadtmuseum"), exhibition of a large collection showing the political and cultural history of the city from its beginning up to present, housed by a converted former department store
* University Mineralogical Museum
* Westphalian Horse Museum ("Hippomax")
* Mühlenhof open-air museum, depicting a typical Westphalian village as it looked centuries ago
* Westphalian Museum for Natural History, state museum and planetarium
* West Prussian State Museum ("Drostenhof Wolbeck")
* Museum of Lacquer Art (founded and operated by the company [[BASF]] Coatings)
* Pablo Picasso Museum of Graphic Art, the only museum devoted exclusively to the graphic works of [[Pablo Picasso]]

==Scientific Education and Research==
* [[University of Münster]] (Westphalian Wilhelms-University (WWU))
* [[University of Applied Sciences]] Münster (Fachhochschule Münster)
* [[University of Applied Sciences]] for Public Administration (Fachhochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung Münster)
* Catholic Polytechnical College Münster (Katholische Fachhochschule Münster)
* Academy of Arts Münster (Kunstakademie Münster)
* Police College (Hochschule der Polizei)
* Army NCO College (Unteroffizierschule des Heeres)
* about 92 Schools of primary and secondary education, many with international partnerships

== City boroughs ==
* Coerde
* [[Münster-Kinderhaus|Kinderhaus]]
* Sprakel
* Handorf
* Gelmer
* Wolbeck
* Gremmendorf
* Angelmodde
* Hiltrup
* Amelsbüren
* Berg Fidel
* Mecklenbeck
* Albachten
* Gievenbeck
* Sentrup
* Roxel
* Nienberge
* Häger
* St. Mauritz
* Mauritz
* Kreuzviertel
* Handorf

== Twin cities ==
Münster is twinned with the following places:
* {{Flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[York]], [[United Kingdom]]
* {{Flagicon|United States}} [[Fresno, California|Fresno]], [[California]], [[United States|USA]]
* {{Flagicon|France}} [[Orléans]], [[France]]
* {{Flagicon|Norway}} [[Kristiansand]], [[Norway]]
* {{Flagicon|Tunisia}} [[Monastir, Tunisia|Monastir]], [[Tunisia]]
* {{Flagicon|Israel}} [[Rishon LeZion]], [[Israel]]
* {{Flagicon|Russia}} [[Ryazan]], [[Russia]]
* {{Flagicon|Germany}} [[Mühlhausen]], [[Thuringia]]
* {{Flagicon|Poland}} [[Lublin]], [[Poland]]

== See also ==
*[[CeNTech]]
*[[Fernmeldeturm Münster|Fernmeldeturm]]
*[http://www.technologiehof-muenster.de/english/index.php Technology Park Münster (Host of technology companies in Münster)]
*[[Muenster, Texas]] (USA)
*[[Munster Province, Republic Of Ireland]]

==External links==
{{Commons|Münster (Westfalen)}}
===Sights===
*{{de icon}} [http://www.muenster.de City's official homepage]
*{{en icon}} [http://www.allwetterzoo.de/english/index.html English page of Münster All-Weather Zoo]
*{{en icon}} [http://www.zoo-infos.de/zoos-en/276.html Münster Zoo at Zoo-Infos.de]
*{{en icon}} [http://www.agermanyattraction.com/germany-attractions-mp/m-nster.html Münster Attractions at AGermanyAttraction.com]
===Images===
{{commonscat|Münster, Germany}}
*{{de icon}} [http://www.stadtpanoramen.de/en/muenster/muenster.html Muenster City Panoramas] - Panoramic Views of Münster's Highlights
*[http://www.geocities.com/univercities/muenster/index.html Pictures from a Muenster visit in April 2004]
===History===
*{{de icon}} [http://www.7grad.org 7Grad.org - Bunkers in Muenster] - History of Muenster's air raid shelters
===Other===
*{{de icon}} [http://www.scpreussen-muenster.de/ the local soccer club:SC Preussen Münster]

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[[Category:Cities in North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Münster]]

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[[la:Monasterium (Germania)]]
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Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Münster