Muenster: Bicycles, the Peace of Westphalia, and a University Town With Character
Muenster has a population of around 270,000 and more registered bicycles than people. The Fahrrad is the default mode of transport here; the Promenade, a tree-lined ring road circling the old town, is reserved for cyclists and pedestrians. The Peace of Westphalia was signed in Muenster's Rathaus in 1648, ending the Thirty Years' War. The Rathaus des Westfaelischen Friedens remains intact and open to visitors. Muenster's Prinzipalmarkt, with its Gothic arcaded facades, was rebuilt after near-total destruction in 1945.
The Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet has over 43,000 students, making Muenster one of Germany's largest university cities. Students account for roughly one in six residents. The Aasee, an artificial lake south of the centre, is a local gathering point. Muenster won the LivCom Award for most liveable city in 2004. The city's adult companionship scene is less visible than in Ruhr cities to the south, shaped by the university-town atmosphere and strong Catholic character of the Muensterland region.
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Muenster has a population of around 270,000 and more registered bicycles than people. The Fahrrad is the default mode of transport here; the Promenade, a tree-lined ring road circling the old town, is reserved for cyclists and pedestrians. The Peace of Westphalia was signed in Muenster's Rathaus in 1648, ending the Thirty Years' War. The Rathaus des Westfaelischen Friedens remains intact and open to visitors. Muenster's Prinzipalmarkt, with its Gothic arcaded facades, was rebuilt after near-total destruction in 1945.
The Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet has over 43,000 students, making Muenster one of Germany's largest university cities. Students account for roughly one in six residents. The Aasee, an artificial lake south of the centre, is a local gathering point. Muenster won the LivCom Award for most liveable city in 2004. The city's adult companionship scene is less visible than in Ruhr cities to the south, shaped by the university-town atmosphere and strong Catholic character of the Muensterland region.
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