11-19 deg C, cloudy for most of the day with brief glimpses of the sun
Walk G: 12km; total: 529k
Walk W: 5km; total: 451km
After breakfast we did some hotel bookings and researched what there was to do in Münster. By this time the temp had risen above 15 deg C, so we headed out. First stop was for a few photos of the outside of the St Ludgeri Church, it wasn’t open so we couldn’t go in, maybe tomorrow. The info centre was next, for a map that we didn’t use much because we stumbled on the fresh food markets adjacent Dom St Paul in the Domplatz. We had a wander through the markets before finding the steps of the Dom, and with no signage to say sitting was ‘verboten’, we sat and had our brews and tasty treats. We started a trend as we were soon joined by others and no sooner had we stood up, than our seats were taken. As the Dom was open, we went inside for a visit. Like all Doms in Europe it is big and beautiful! Even Wendy doesn’t get tired of seeing the inside of yet another church. Although she sometimes elects to wait outside and guard the bikes.
We then wandered through another lane of the markets to get out of the Platz. You don’t have to go far to stumble upon another church, this time the Dominican Church, that is now being used as a modern art museum. It had a display of physics today. While Wendy made her way home for lunch, Greg continued to wander and joined her about an hour later.
After a little rest and having to listen to a bunch of noisy protestors marching down the street beating drums. They were escorted by half a dozen police officers on foot and as many vehicles with who knows how many officers inside. Obviously neither side has anything better to do with their time, really?
Dinner and more wandering finished the day nicely. Another day in Münster should just about do us.
St Ludgeri
Same Church, different angles and light
100 arms of Guan-yin; approx 6-8m tall, based on an oversized bottle dryer on which arms with objects can be seen instead of bottles
Flowers for sale at the market
St Paul’s Dom
St Lamberti
Ladder to Heaven, intended to represent man’s very personal way to God. It is above all a symbol for the three divine virtues hope, faith, and love. Created by Billi Thanner
A novel entry/exit to/from St Lamberti
Ruin of the old monastery complex
Dominican Church, now an art museum
Church of Our Lady Überwasser (Above water)
Rathaus
Town Hall Tower
Our end of the hotel - the old end, our room is on the second floor behind the tree
The old and new Novotel
For Wendy’s family - almost like korncurls/chicken flings!
For those interested in the history of Münster, here is a very brief one. Google if you want more!
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also a state district capital. Münster was the location of the Anabaptist rebellion during the Protestant Reformation and one of the sites of the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia ending the Thirty Years’ War in 1648. Today, it is known as the bicycle capital of Germany. The combination of ford, crossroad, market place, episcopal administrative centre, library and school, established Münster as an important centre. In 1040, Heinrich III became the first king of Germany to visit Münster. In the Middle Ages, the Prince-Bishopric of Münster was a leading member of the Hanseatic League. It also guaranteed the future of the prince-bishop and the diocese; the area was to be exclusively Roman Catholic. In WWII, Münster was heavily garrisoned and was hit in one of the first “City Busting” missions of the U.S Air Force on 10 October 1943. Much of the city center and the railway yard was heavily damaged in the raid, but heavy casualties were inflicted against the American heavy bombers, with the Americans losing 13 of the 14 B-17s that took part in the raid. Münster was bombed again on 25 October 1944 by 34 diverted B-24 Liberator bombers. About 63 per cent of the city including 91 per cent of the Old City was destroyed by Allied air raids.
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