Osnabruck Tourist Attractions

The historic center of Osnabrück, in the heart of the old town, is the Cathedral (Dom) of St Peter (R.C.), founded by Charlemagne at the end of the eighth C. and dating in its present form, with its massive southwest tower and the more slender northwest tower, from the 13th C. Notable features of the interior are the fine bronze font (1225), the Triumphal Cross group (1250) and the 16th C. statues of apostles on the pillars of the nave. The adjoining Diocesan Museum (entrance through the cloister) contains, among much else, the valuable cathedral treasury. In the Domhof can be seen the Löwenpudel ("Lion Poodle"), and in the Grosse Domsfreiheit are the Episcopal Chancery, the Bishop's Palace and a bronze statue of the statesman and historian Justus Möser (1720-94).

To the west of the Cathedral in Osnabrück lies the Markt, surrounded by gabled houses (rebuilt in the original style). On the west side of the square stands the Town Hall (Rathaus; 1477-1512), with an interesting treasury and the Peace Chamber, in which the peace treaty between the Emperor, the Protestant Estates and the Swedes at the end of the Thirty Years War was signed in 1648. Immediately adjoining the Town Hall is the Municipal Weigh-House (1531).

St Mary's Church (13th-15th C.; Protestant), in the center of the square of Osnabrück, has a beautiful winged altar from Antwerp (1520), a 14th C. Triumphal Cross group and the tomb of Justus Möser (under the ambulatory).

Between the Town Hall and the Heger Tor in Osnabrück is a well-restored quarter of the old town. In Krahnstrasse and Bierstrasse, to the west of the Markt, are a number of old half-timbered houses (Haus Willmann, 1586; Walhalla inn, 1690). Heger Strasse (antique shops) leads to the Heger Tor (rebuilt in neo-classical style in 1817 as the Waterloo Gate), part of the town's old fortifications. Other remains of the fortifications, along the "Wallstrassen" which now mark their line, are the Bucksturm (collection of medieval weapons and instruments of torture), the Bürgergehorsam, the Vitischanze, with the Bärenturm, and the Pernickelturm.

On the Heger-Tor-Wall in Osnabrück is the Museum of Cultural History (folk traditions, history, art).

The Neuer Graben in Osnabrück marks the boundary between the old town to the north and the new town to the south. At its west end is the Stadthalle, and near this is the Palace of the Prince-Bishops (1668-90), now occupied by the University. On its north side is the Ledenhof, with a Renaissance bell-cote, and beyond this is St Catherine's Church (Katherinenkirche; 14th c.), with a 103m/338ft high tower.

In Johannisstrasse in Osnabrück stands St John's Church (St Johann; 13th C.), the parish church of the new town, which grew up round it. It has a high altar (1525) of the school of the Master of Osnabrück.

On the Schölerberg in Osnabrück are the Zoo (1,800 animals) and the Museum am Schölerberg (planetarium; nature and the environment).

This annual three-week festival was established in 1988 and takes place in September. There are usually over 30 performances, including chamber and choral concerts, recitals and seminars, featuring baroque music as well as works from the Middle Ages and Renaissance.Workshops highlighting performances, practice and interpretation are also held during the course of the festival.The performances take place in the various towns surrounding Osnabrück town.