Summary
In 1648, Osnabrück played a crucial role in concluding the Thirty Years’ War when the Peace of Westphalia treaty was signed between Sweden and the Habsburgs. Today, this city in Lower Saxony is recognized as Friedensstadt (City of Peace) and visitors can explore the historic Town Hall where the treaty was established.
A noteworthy figure from the city is the Jewish painter Felix Nussbaum, whose oeuvre reflects his persecution by the Nazis. Nussbaum is commemorated in a museum designed by Daniel Libeskind that provokes thoughtful reflection.
The historic center experienced significant damage during the Second World War; however, much of its historical architecture has been meticulously restored, including Romanesque and Gothic churches, a defensive tower, and Schloss Osnabrück, the residence of the Prince-Elector in the 17th century.
Let’s examine the top attractions in Osnabrück:
1. Osnabrück Town Hall
Built between 1587 and 1612, the Town Hall of Osnabrück is an exemplary representation of Late Gothic architecture.
The facade features a row of statues highlighting Charlemagne, who founded the city in the 8th century, alongside eight other prominent German emperors, including Kaiser Wilhelm I, as the statues were added in the 19th century.
The historic bronze door displays a gold handle sculpted as a dove, inscribed with the term “Friede” (Peace) and the year 1648, commemorating the Peace of Westphalia negotiations held here along with discussions in Münster.
Although the structure suffered during the war, its invaluable fittings, artifacts, and artwork were safely stored beforehand. Therefore, participating in the 90-minute guided tour provides an in-depth understanding of this pivotal treaty and the opportunity to view portraits of the peace treaty envoys.
2. St Peter’s Cathedral
Consecrated at the conclusion of the 8th century, the current structure of Osnabrück’s Cathedral can be traced back to the 12th century, exemplifying late Romanesque architectural style.
The oldest architectural elements include the western facade and its square towers, along with the octagonal tower situated above the crossing.
Inside, visitors can appreciate a plethora of historic decorations and fittings, including a triumphal cross and baptismal font with a relief depicting Christ’s baptism, both originating from the 13th century.
The walls of the nave also feature a collection of twelve polychrome sculptures crafted by the 16th-century artist Heinrich Brabender.
3. Museum Industriekultur Osnabrück
This museum focuses on the industrial heritage of Osnabrück and is situated in Piesberg, a mining site with a history spanning over a millennium.
The mining operations surged during the 19th century amidst industrialization, and within the Haseschacht building, visitors can observe how Osnabrück transitioned from an agricultural town to a modern industrial and economic hub.
The geological composition of the coal deposits at Piesberg is explored in this museum, along with displays of fossils unearthed from the mines.
Noteworthy is the machine room, where visitors can witness two impressive turbines dating from 1849 and 1916 still operational, powering a metal workshop equipped with drills and lathes.
A unique feature enables guests to take an elevator 30 meters underground into a 300-meter tunnel that leads to the mine’s historical wash house.
4. Felix Nussbaum Haus
This museum is dedicated to the German-Jewish artist Felix Nussbaum, who was persecuted by the Nazis and ultimately murdered at Auschwitz in 1944. His art poignantly documents Jewish persecution and the Holocaust; his pieces like Self Portrait with Jewish Identity Card (1943) and his final painting Triumph of Death (1944) encapsulate the era’s despair and trepidation.
The building, designed by American architect Daniel Libeskind, is conceptualized as a “museum without exit,” intended to evoke discomfort and reflection.
Inaugurated in 1998, Felix Nussbaum Haus marks Libeskind’s inaugural museum project.
5. St Mary’s Church
Positioned on Markt across from the Town Hall, St Mary’s Church is a distinguished Gothic structure, with its current form established in the 14th and 15th centuries.
The main entrance features a southern Brautportal leading into the square, with Gothic sculptures of the Five Wise Virgins on the left and the Five Foolish Virgins on the right, adorning the columns that flank the doorway.
Inside, prominent artworks include the winged altar created and painted in Antwerp in 1520, along with a triumphal cross from the 1200s portraying Jesus adorned with a crown of thorns and nailed through his feet.
6. Kulturgeschichtliches Museum
In 2011, the city’s cultural history museum was integrated into the Felix Nussbaum Haus, forming a cohesive museum experience.
Visitors can trace Osnabrück’s evolution from prehistoric times through its establishment in the 8th century.
The exhibits include coins, medals, furniture, various costumes, and artworks originally housed in the city’s churches.
A must-see display encompasses original sculptures of the clever and foolish virgins from St Mary’s Church, which were replaced by replicas in the 1800s for preservation purposes.
One significant artifact is the Kupferschatz von Osnabrück, a Copper Age treasure featuring a copper axe and a set of lunulae (crescent-shaped collars), representing some of Germany’s earliest metallic objects.
The gift shop for the entire complex is located in the Akzisehaus, the last remaining customs house in the city, which dates back to 1817.
7. Schloss Osnabrück
Following the signing of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg (father of King George I of Great Britain), commissioned a four-wing Baroque palace to be constructed as a residence in the city center.
The palace was finalized in 1673, and the family resided there for six years before relocating to Hanover.
After the death of Ernest Augustus’s youngest son, Ernest Augustus II, at the palace in 1728, the building was left vacant and deteriorated. During the Second World War, it served as a prison and interrogation center for the Gestapo.
Since 1974, it has accommodated the administrative offices of the University of Osnabrück.
Although not traditionally a tourist attraction, visitors are welcome to enter, and the three hectares of gardens provide a beautiful setting that hosts cinema screenings in the summer.
8. Heger Tor
This Neoclassical arch derives its name from the city’s western Medieval gate and is integrated into the fortifications. Located approximately 20 meters from the original Heger Tor, this monument was established in 1817 to honor the soldiers from Osnabrück who participated in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Funding was entirely provided by a local citizen, Gerhard Friedrich von Güllich.
The design draws inspiration from the Arch of Titus in Rome, featuring two pairs of Ionic columns flanking the arch.
In the architrave above, a gold-lettered inscription pays tribute to the soldiers’ “German courage,” naming Güllich as the benefactor.
9. Osnabrück Zoo
Considered one of the premier zoos in the country, Osnabrück Zoo has gained considerable acclaim for its efforts to replace outdated concrete enclosures with more naturalistic habitats over the last decade.
The latest addition is “Manitoba,” a North American landscape set to be unveiled through 2017 and 2018, where bison roam freely within a 3,800-square-meter area.
Another recent feature is “Angkor Wat,” a walkable South Asian temple environment that allows macaques the freedom to roam, alongside dedicated enclosures for tigers and orangutans.
Additional remarkable habitats include the Unterirdischer Zoo (Underground Zoo), showcasing subterranean species such as prairie dogs and naked mole rats, and the Tal der Grauen Rienen (Valley of the Grey Giants), which contains antelopes, rhinos, and African elephants.
10. Botanischer Garten der Universität Osnabrück
Located in the Westerberg district just a few minutes west of the Altstadt, the botanical garden is situated within a former limestone quarry and is managed by the University of Osnabrück’s biology and chemistry departments.
Established in 1984, the garden comprises over 8,000 different plant species across its 5.6 hectares.
The plant beds are organized by geographical region, featuring themes like the Mediterranean, Eurasian Steppe, China, Japan, and North America.
In the center, a landscaped Alpine garden exists, alongside a 21-meter-high greenhouse that was constructed in 1998 to house rainforest species from Central and South America.
11. Museum und Park Kalkriese
One of the most enigmatic occurrences in the annals of the Roman Empire occurred approximately north of Osnabrück in 9 AD. This is known as the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest or the Varian Disaster, where three Roman legions were ambushed and destroyed by a coalition of Germanic tribes.
The conflict extended across a vast area, yet following the archaeological discoveries in the 1980s, the district of Kalkriese in Bramsche emerged as a leading theory regarding the location of this event.
The museum, established in 2002, displays 400 out of the 6,000 artifacts unearthed at the site, with one of the most intriguing findings being an intact mask from a Roman cavalry helmet.
12. Bürgerpark
If you seek a serene location for a morning jog, leisurely walk, or summer picnic, Osnabrück’s oldest park can be found just north of the Altstadt.
Established in the early 19th century, the park comprises a blend of forest, meadows, water features, and play areas across seven hectares.
The park’s 450 mature trees, over two hundred years old, significantly contribute to its charm.
The Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences is also responsible for the park’s lovely perennial garden, located adjacent to the remnants of a 19th-century ice house, which now supports a large population of bats.
13. Bucksturm
Following the wall from Heger Tor leads to Bucksturm, the most intact section of Osnabrück’s medieval fortifications.
This watchtower, which features a semi-circular design, dates back to the 1200s.
During the Middle Ages, Bucksturm served as the city prison, housing notable figures, including John V, Count of Hoya, who spent six years confined in a small oak cell known as the Johanniskasten during the 1440s.
Additionally, in the 16th and 17th centuries, the tower frequently operated as a torture chamber for accused witches.
The building is open every Sunday, with guided tours at 12:00 and again at 15:00, while the accompanying museum, which offers insights into the historical context of the witch trials, operates from 11:00 to 17:00.
14. Steinwerke
Osnabrück is also noted for its Steinwerke, which are medieval structures unique to North and West Germany, taking the form of multi-story stone buildings erected adjacent to houses.
Typically rectangular in shape, Steinwerke resemble fortified buildings and were initially constructed as warehouses or refuges for noble or wealthy families.
Even in the aftermath of the Second World War, several Steinwerke remain evident throughout Osnabrück’s Altstadt.
A notable example can be found at Ledenhof, a short distance from Schloss Osnabrück, with additional classic specimens situated at Dielingerstraße 13 and Bierstraße 13.
15. Maiwoche
As one of North Germany’s largest folk festivals, Maiwoche attracts over 700,000 visitors to the city for ten days of celebration in mid-May.
During the festival, local and nationally recognized bands and performers entertain at outdoor stages set up in city squares.
Children can enjoy a grand carousel located beside the cathedral square. As the festival has evolved, it has incorporated a diverse selection of international street food and beer, complementing the vibrant musical performances.
For many years, the festival concludes with a performance by the Osnabrück band Blues Company, a beloved local act.
