Famed as the location where the 1648 Peace of Westphalia was signed, bringing to an end the 30 Years’ War, Osnabrück is a picturesque city backed by the Wiehen Hills. It was founded by Charles the Great in 780 AD and served as a member of the Hanseatic League before being largely destroyed by bombings during World War II.
Osnabrück’s Altstadt (Old Town) has been carefully reconstructed while main-taining its original medieval architecture. At its heart lies the Town Hall where the Peace of Westphalia was negotiated and the 13th-century Gothic church of St. Marien, which stands as the oldest and one of the most artistically significant churches in the city. Also of note is the medieval St. Peter’s Cathedral, which was established in the 11th century, and the churches of St. Katharinen and St. Johann.
One of the most prominent landmarks in Osnabrück is the Heger Tor arch mon-ument that commemorates the Battle of Waterloo. It stands opposite Felix Nuss-baum Haus, which was designed by renowned Jewish architect Daniel Libeskind and is dedicated to the local Jewish painter, Felix Nussbaum. Learn about his life in Osnabrück and his death at Auschwitz during World War II while admiring his surrealist paintings, then explore the adjacent Kulturgeschichtliches Museum Os-nabrück that details life in 20th-century Osnabrück.
A short walk south takes you to the sprawling grounds of the 17th-century Os-nabrück Castle. Its magnificent baroque architecture now houses the main build-ing of the University of Osnabrück while the surrounding parklands host regular concerts during the warm summer months.