Top 15 Attractions in Paderborn, Germany

In the 8th century, the First Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne established Paderborn around the numerous springs that nourish the River Pader. Paderborn continues to be a city rich in Medieval heritage, featuring a cathedral that houses the relics of the 4th-century Saint Liborius.

More than 1,200 years later, the city honors Saint Liborius with a vibrant summer festival that combines a fair with a sacred procession. The bishopric founded by Charlemagne evolved into the residence of Imperial Prince-Bishops, who held both political and religious influence. The splendid Renaissance palace associated with them still stands proud and majestic.

In the 10th century, Paderborn was selected as a residence by Holy Roman Emperor Henry II, and visitors can now explore the remains of his palace along with a Byzantine-style church.

Here is a closer look at the top attractions in Paderborn:

1. Paderborn Cathedral

The captivating cathedral has served as a site of worship since Charlemagne established a bishopric here in the 8th century.

The current architecture of Paderborn Cathedral reflects a blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles, culminating in its completion during the 13th century.

The impressive 93-meter western tower is an iconic representation of Paderborn.

Despite suffering damage during conflicts that resulted in the destruction of Medieval stained glass, the cathedral boasts an abundance of artistic decoration and furnishings.

Look for the Paradise Portal located on the southern side of the western nave.

This entrance, dating back to the early 1200s, is adorned with French-style sculptures, including one of the earliest representations of a standing Mary in Germany.

Additionally, observe the Pietà, crafted in Hesse in 1360, the alabaster relief depicting the Three Kings from around that time, and the Gothic Margarethenaltar from the 15th century.

2. Heinz Nixdorf Museumsforum

The largest computer museum worldwide is situated in the former premises of Nixdorf Computer AG. The Heinz Nixdorf Museumsforum takes visitors on a journey through five millennia of information and communication technology, tracing the history from the origins of written language in Ancient Mesopotamia to contemporary concepts such as artificial intelligence and robotics.

With over 2,000 exhibits to explore, the lower level features artifacts including Egyptian hieroglyphics, early printing presses, 17th-century adding machines, pinwheel calculators, and telegraphs.

The upper floor focuses on modern advancements, showcasing classic computers such as the Altair 8800, Apple Lisa, a Texas Instruments TI-99/4A, and a Cray-2 supercomputer.

3. Erzbischöfliches Diözesanmuseum Paderborn

With an extraordinary collection of sacred art spanning from the 900s to the 1900s, Paderborn’s diocesan museum stands as the oldest in the German-speaking world.

Established in 1853 as a repository for liturgical works without a place in the diocese’s churches, the museum relocated to a new building in 1975, specially designed to resemble a treasure chest, situated at the southwest corner of the cathedral tower.

Art enthusiasts will be captivated by the Romanesque Imad Madonna from the 1050s, one of the earliest portrayals of Mary in Western art, alongside manuscripts, wooden paintings, and an invaluable portable altar crafted by the 12th-century goldsmith Roger of Helmarshausen.

4. Museum in der Kaiserpfalz

In 1964, the foundation walls of Paderborn’s Kaiserpfalz (the seat of the Holy Roman Emperor) were unearthed adjacent to the cathedral.

These remnants, dating back to the 700s, have been incorporated into the design of the surrounding museum.

Visitors can delve into the history of Paderborn and Westphalia, spanning from the 8th to the 12th century.

Artifacts recovered from excavations include glassware, wall paintings, jewelry, and architectural fragments, as well as exhibitions that provide insight into the building techniques of the Early Middle Ages.

5. Bartholomäuskapelle

Adjacent to the cathedral and linked to the Kaiserpfalz is the Bartholomäuskapelle, recognized as the oldest known hall church north of the Alps. This Byzantine-style temple, constructed circa 1017, has no architectural equivalent in Germany.

The structure features Byzantine dome vaults, while the decorative capitals atop the central columns are regarded as exemplary representations of art from the Ottonian period in Germany.

Notably, the church has survived a millennium intact and sustained no significant damage during World War II.

6. Marktkirche

The elegant Baroque church located in the heart of the city was completed within a decade, from 1682 to 1692. Originally, the Marktkirche served as a Jesuit church during the counter-reformation, and its ornate pulpit and altar reflect this heritage.

Initially installed in 1696, the high altar rises to 20 meters, featuring gilded Solomonic columns, putti, intricate paintings, and the Jesuit coat of arms.

After the original was destroyed during the war, it underwent meticulous reconstruction between 1989 and 2004, encompassing eight phases at a total expense of €4 million.

7. Paderborn Rathaus

In the early 17th century, Prince-Bishop Dietrich von Fürstenberg commissioned the construction of a stunning new town hall in the Weser Renaissance style, replacing the old structure.

Florentine influences can be discerned in the ground floor arcades, while the upper portion showcases three exquisitely adorned gables accentuated with mullioned windows and crowned by a weather vane.

The building has undergone several refurbishments, the latest being in the 1870s, before nearly being razed during the war. Its redecoration was subsequently led by local artist Josefthomas Brinkschröder, culminating in 1954.

8. Schloss Neuhaus

Initially built as the residence for Paderborn’s Prince-Bishops, Schloss Neuhaus’s construction began in the 1200s and was expanded over the following 300 years by its notable occupants.

The most significant enhancement came from Erich von Braunschweig-Grubenhagen in the 1520s, when he bestowed the palace with its Weser Renaissance façade.

On the western gable, one can observe a reclining stone figure commemorating a roofer allegedly murdered by a member of Prince-Bishop Ferdinand von Fürstenberg’s hunting party to demonstrate his marksmanship.

The assailant eluded capture but returned years later to the scene, where he was swiftly arrested and executed.

The Baroque formal gardens host the “Schlossommer,” a series of concerts and exhibitions held during summer.

9. Deutsches Traktoren- und Modellauto-Museum

Located in a showroom within a trading estate on the northern fringes of Paderborn, this museum boasts an extensive collection of vintage tractors.

With over 120 meticulously restored units, the collection showcases technological advancements from the 1920s through the post-war era.

Curated by logistics magnate Oskar Vogel, the assemblage includes models by renowned brands such as Porsche, MAN, Deutz, Lanz, Hanomag, and Eicher.

A standout feature is an authentic Shell filling station from the 1920s. Additionally, the museum displays a fleet of over 10,000 model cars, trucks, and tractors from various brands including Siku, Wiking, and Herpa.

10. Das Adam-und-Eva-Haus

Situated at Am Abdinghof 11, this is one of Paderborn’s oldest and most exquisite half-timbered houses.

This gabled, three-story structure dates back to 1560, and its facade is adorned with intricate carvings.

Starting just below the gable are three carved friezes, with the lowest one giving the house its name, illustrating the narrative of Adam and Eve—from their creation to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

The carvings exemplify the Weser Renaissance style and serve as a significant testament from the Reformation period.

Until 2015, the house housed Paderborn’s city museum and now awaits a new occupant.

11. Busdorfkirche

For those still intrigued by medieval religious architecture, the Busdorfkirche presents another captivating site, consecrated in 1036 by Bishop Meinwerk.

This collegiate church was initially positioned outside the city walls but was incorporated into Paderborn in the late 11th century.

The original octagonal design was inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, with the western facade and two circular towers with conical roofs remaining intact from the original structure.

It’s evident where later alterations were made, as the Busdorfkirche was complemented with a ceremonial Baroque porch and portal in the 17th century.

Inside, visitors can admire the 13th-century wooden crucifix, Gothic tabernacle, baptismal font, and epitaphs dating from the 1400s to the 1700s.

12. “Kümpе”

Paderborn addressed the challenges of medieval water supply through the construction of small stone reservoirs known as “Kümpе” in various squares.

These reservoirs were supplied by the city’s springs using an intricate network of pumps and wooden piping, dating back to the 1400s, and are replicated in only a few select German towns.

Besides offering water for drinking and washing, these fountains also helped combat fires during the devastating blazes of the 16th century.

Notable “Kümpе” can be found in front of the Rathaus, at the Franziskanerkirche on Westernstraße, and most prominently, the statue of St Liborius at the intersection of Kamp and Liboristraße.

13. The Pader River

Paderborn is noteworthy for being home to the shortest river in Germany.

A left tributary of the Lippe, the Pader River measures only four kilometers in length, although it is wide and has a considerable water volume.

This abundant flow originates from approximately 200 springs around the city, a consequence of the unique karst geology underlying Paderborn.

The greatest concentration of springs can be found within two parks, the Park Paderquellen and the Paderquellgebiet.

Within the latter, visitors will experience the Warme Pader, which is warmer than the surrounding waters, emerging at a temperature of 15°C and generating steam on chilly winter days.

14. Abdinghofkirche

Once a Benedictine monastery, Abdinghofkirche was established in the 11th century by Bishop Meinwerk and features two Romanesque towers overlooking the Paderquellgebiet.

Bishop Meinwerk designated this church as his burial site, and his sarcophagus was returned in 1958 after being transferred several times between this church and the cathedral since the 15th century.

Visitors should be aware that much of what is seen today is from the 19th century, following extensive restorations of the building that had fallen into disrepair.

Most original decorations were lost during the plundering of the monastery in the 17th century during the Thirty Years’ War; however, the church’s appeal lies in its long, narrow nave and side vaults.

15. Libori

For nine days starting from the first Saturday after July 23, Paderborn comes alive with a festival that dates back to 836 when the relics of St Liborius of Le Mans were brought to the city.

The celebration includes both secular and religious events: on Saturday, the shrine and relics are removed from the cathedral crypt and displayed in the choir, followed by a solemn procession with the shrine on Sunday.

Non-religious festivities feature a fairground stretching 1.6 kilometers on Liboriberg and Pottmarkt by the cathedral, selling handicrafts and traditional delicacies.

In front of the Rathaus, attendees will find the Bierbrunnen, or beer fountain, where beer is poured from a large traditional keg by men in tunics representing the town’s colors.