100 years ago, the First World War ended. The years 1914-1918 will forever be part of the collective European memory, but did you know that Europe also has another peace to celebrate in 2018? It's been 370 years since the Peace of Westphalia was signed in the German cities of Münster and Osnabrück.
To celebrate these two anniversaries, five museums in Münster have put together an overarching exhibition: “Peace. From Antiquity to the Present Day”. It's running now until September 2, 2018, and I was invited by the city of Münster and the German National Tourism Board to come and check it out in combination with a visit to the city of Osnabrück.
Contents
- Peace. From Antiquity to the Present Day: an exhibition across five Münster museums
- 1. LWL – Museum für Kunst und Kultur
- 2. Diocese of Münster
- 3. Kunstmuseum Pablo Picasso Munster
- 4. Archäologisches Museum at Münster University
- 5. Stadtmuseum Münster
- 6. The Friendenssaal or “Hall of Peace”
- Practical information on visiting all five peace exhibitions
- The Münstercard – One card for everything
- How to get to Münster
- Where to stay in Münster
- More on Münster
- Pin for later
Peace. From Antiquity to the Present Day: an exhibition across five Münster museums
The museums in Münster that are working together on the big Peace exhibition are the LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, the Kunstmuseum Pablo Picasso Münster, the Diocese of Münster, the Archäologisches Museum at Münster University and the Stadtmuseum. I'd already visited a few of these museums on my first trip to the city, so this time I went back specifically for the temporary exhibitions.
Below, you can read all about the big Peace exhibition as well as find some general information about the different participating museums.
1. LWL – Museum für Kunst und Kultur
The LWL Museum für Kunst und Kultur is, simply put, massive. It showcases art from the early Middle Ages all the way to the present day and ranging from paintings over photographs to sculptures, drawings, coins and more. All of these are housed in a spacious building that easily guides you from one room to the next until you've seen all of the no less than 51 halls.
Or you can make a selection of what interests you most from the permanent collection and the temporary exhibitions.
The LWL museum Münster also has a cafe, a library and – of course – a gift shop.
“Pathways to peace”
“Wege zum Frieden” or “Pathways to Peace” at the LWL Münster exhibits works of art – mostly paintings – that depict how artists have represented the theme of peace throughout the ages. Special attention is paid to the use of metaphors and symbols.
It further zooms in on the importance of mediators in establishing peace, important treaties that were signed in the past, as well as questions such as “How can peace be achieved?” and “Is peace something that can be ‘learned'?”.
The exhibition concludes by bringing up current challenges to peace, such as migration and non-traditional types of warfare.
“Wege zum Frieden” is the biggest of the five peace exhibitions and together with the exhibition by the Bisdom of Münster, which is also hosted at the LWL Landesmuseum, it's the only of the five that has all of its information also available in English. The exhibitions at the Archaeological Museum, the Picasso Museum, and the Stadtmuseum are, unfortunately, only in German.
Practical information
LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur
Domplatz 10
Münster
Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
A ticket for just the LWL costs €8 for adults or is free with the münstercard. Discounts are available.
A combi-ticket for all peace exhibitions costs €25. Discounts are available.
There are lockers for which you need a €1 or €2 coin, which you get back afterward.
2. Diocese of Münster
Even if you're not religious, the Münster Dom is an absolute must when visiting the city. It proudly stands on a massive square and is equally impressive from the inside as on the outside. It dates back to the 13th century and is known for its beautiful astronomical clock.
It normally puts on a little show every Monday-Saturday at 12 p.m. and every Sunday at 12.30 p.m. but is under renovation at the time of writing. The Treasure Room is currently closed as well, so keep an eye on the website of the city of Münster to know when both can be seen again.
“Peace. As in Heaven so on Earth?”
© Prof. Dr. Thomas Flammer
The Diocese of Münster put together an exhibition around the concept of peace within Christianity and the conflict between the peace that is wished for, and reality. More than 100 works of Christian art show the (evolution of the) depiction of peace and war from the Classical Antiquity until now.
This wasn't so much my cup of tea, but that's just because I'm really not into Christian art in general.
Practical information
You can visit the Diocese peace exhibition at the ground floor of the LWL-Museum für Kunst und Kultur, either with a ticket for the LWL or with the combi ticket mentioned above.
3. Kunstmuseum Pablo Picasso Munster
The Münster Picasso Museum is located on the Picassoplatz, which actually has the painter's face on it when you look at it from above (which you can do from inside the museum). On the ground floor, you can find the gift shop, toilets, and lockers (insert a €1 or €2 coin which you get back after).
The exhibition spaces are located on the first and second floor, showcasing both works by Picasso and his contemporaries in changing exhibitions. The Pablo Picasso Museum Münster actually owns the largest collection of Picasso lithographs (100+ works!) and most of the artwork on display are graphics.
Picasso. From the Horrors of War to the Dove of Peace
This exhibition displays how Picasso has actively incorporated the themes of war and peace in his work. It pays specific attention to the many variations of the “Peace Pigeon” he created as well as to how his ideas around war and peace were re-interpreted by later generations of both artists and others.
Practical information
Kunstmuseum Pablo Picasso Münster
Picassoplatz 1
Münster
Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
A ticket for just the Kunstmuseum Pablo Picasso costs €10 for adults or is free with the münstercard. Discounts are available.
A combi-ticket for all peace exhibitions costs €25. Discounts are available.
4. Archäologisches Museum at Münster University
The Archeological Museum of the University of Münster has an extensive collection of artworks and crafts from the Mediterranean region and the Middle East which it displays in changing exhibitions.
“Eirene / Pax – Peace in Antiquity”
The peace exhibition at the Archeological Museum of the University of Münster is the smallest of the five peace exhibitions. It mostly displays sculptures and artifacts. The focus here lies on the representation of peace as well as some of the oldest peace treaties known to us today.
Practical information
Archäologisches Museum der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster
Domplatz 20-22
Münster
Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
Admission to the Archeological Museum is free except for special exhibitions.
5. Stadtmuseum Münster
The City Museum of Münster gives an overview of the history of the city in 33 different “cabinets” or themes. The various objects on display tell the story well, but it's a bit of a pity that the information panels are only available in German. Admission is free, though, so I do recommend checking it out if you want to learn more about the city.
“A reason to celebrate? Münster and the Peace of Westphalia”
The peace exhibition at Münster's City Museum reflects on how the people of Münster felt about the treaty while focusing on the remembrance years of 1748, 1848, 1898, and 1948. The remembrance celebrations of 1948 were first prepared by the Nazis with the goal of having them serve as propaganda. The exhibition they prepared never took place and some of the copies of the works then created, are now for the first time ever on display.
Practical information
Stadtmuseum Münster
Salzstrasse 28
Münster
Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
Entry to the Stadtmuseum is free.
6. The Friendenssaal or “Hall of Peace”
The Friedenssaal or “Hall of Peace” can be found at Münster's historic city hall. The Hall used to be a council chamber and has a striking look thanks to the wooden panels that cover its walls and ceiling. Also adorning the walls, are portraits of the diplomats, royals, and emissaries who negotiated the Peace of Westphalia.
Much of the “furniture” you see at the Hall of Peace was actually removed during the Second World War to protect it from the bombings and completely restored afterward.
There are no information panels in the Hall, but they do play an audio tape telling you a bit about its history. It's in German, though, so you're best to grab one of the brochures that's available in several languages at the city hall information office or at the Münster Tourist Information office (Heinrich-Brüning-Strasse 9). They have information not just about the Hall of Peace, but the rest of City Hall as well.
Practical information
Friedenssaal
Prinzipalmarkt 10
Münster
Opening hours:
- Tue-Fri: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Sat-Sun and public holidays: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Closed on Mondays and for special events
Entry to the Friedenssaal costs €2 for adults or is free with the münstercard. Discounts are available.
Learn more about the Peace of Westphalia
“The Thirty Years War” tells the story of a divided Europe, the events that lead to this nightmarish war as well as how peace was finally established. It does so in a both detailed and colorful way, combining great storytelling and clear language with historical facts.
Practical information on visiting all five peace exhibitions
A combi-ticket for all peace exhibitions costs €25. Discounts are available.
The exhibitions can also be visited separately when visiting the individual museums.
The Friendenssaal is not part of the peace exhibition and van be visited all-year-round at an individual entrance price.
For tours and more information:
info@ausstellung-frieden.de
T +49 251 5907 201
www.ausstellung-frieden.de
The Münstercard – One card for everything
If you're heading to Münster, be sure to check out the new münstercard. This card costs €20 (adults)/€12 (6-17y) or €30/€16 for one day/two days and gives you free access to a bunch of museums, a day of bike rental, a trip on the Aasee with the Solaaris boat and some other cool things. If you're planning on doing a few paid activities, this card will quickly help you save some money.
More information on the official website.
How to get to Münster
I drove there and parked at the parking garage right by my hotel, but you can also take the train to Münster Hbf, which lies right at the edge of the Old Town.
Click here for European train travel timetables.
If you're coming from afar, you could also check if there are flights to the Münster-Osnabrück Airport, but if you're flying in, you'll most likely fly to Cologne or Düsseldorf to then take the train from there.
Where to stay in Münster
Where I stayed: Flowers Hotels
This was my third trip to Münster and the third hotel I tried there. To see where I've slept on my previous trips to Münster, check these two posts:
This time, I stayed at Flowers Hotels (don't ask me why it's in plural), right by the main train station. All rooms here have a private bathroom, flatscreen tv, and fridge. Some, like mine, also have a little kitchenette where you can prepare a meal.
Guests can enjoy the breakfast buffet (to be paid separately) as well as the rooftop terrace.
Here's another photo of what my room looked like:
The staff here was very friendly, the WiFi worked well and in terms of location, you can't do better. Not only is Flowers Hotels located right next to the main train station, it's also just a few meters away from a parking garage where you only pay €10/day to park. And just a 5-minute walk takes you straight into the Old Town.
Want to stay at Flowers Hotels too?
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Other Munster accommodation options
Boutique: H4 Hotel Münster
The H4 in Munster, Germany
On another trip, I spent two nights at the H4 Hotel Münster City Center, just a short walk from the train station and right in the center of the city. The beautiful Prinzipalmarkt and the Domplatz are ocated at less than 10 minutes walking from the hotel and an additional benefit was the free bike hire that came with the room.
The H4 offers an elaborate breakfast buffet and spacious rooms with free wifi, a free locker, and a flat screen tv. No fridge and no tea and coffee supplies, as is usual in German hotels, but you do get free sparkling water.
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Budget: H.ostel Münster
Located right on Marienplatz Square, this hostel is a fun option if you’re running on a tight budget. The dormitories all have a quirky design, with each bunk bed separated from the others by wood. They're a bit like sleeping pods, making it still feel private even if you’re sharing a room with nine others. The air-conditioned dorms offer free WiFi and lockable containers for personal belongings. Linens are provided as well. The bathrooms at the hostel are large and stylish. In your free time, you can pass by the fun reception for information or hang at the cafe area.
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Chain: Mövenpick Hotel Münster
Mövenpick Hotel is found right next to Lake Aasee and within walkable distance to the center of Münster. It’s really good value for a four-star hotel, with three restaurants, a sauna on the roof, and a gym overlooking the Old Town. The rooms have a contemporary feel with free tea and coffee making facilities, air-con, and free WiFi.
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Luxury: Mauritzhof Hotel Münster
This is a great hotel that I’ve enjoyed staying at before. Prinzipalmarkt is only a ten-minute walk away, and it’s really easy to get to other city landmarks by foot. There’s an outdoor terrace, free WiFi and a good buffet breakfast. The rooms are stylish with muted tones and spacious bathrooms.
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Apartment: Ferienwohnung Dörrie im Zentrum
A fantastic central location right near the railway station and a short walk to the cathedral, this apartment is cute and cozy, feeling like a real home-from-home. Kitchen facilities are not extensive, with a microwave, kettle and fridge, but it’s a great base from which to explore the city. Free WiFi is provided.
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If you're looking for alternative apartment options, have a look on Airbnb. I use Booking for hotels, but I always check Airbnb for apartments as they have such a large selection.
If you found this post useful, please consider booking your next Airbnb through my link. I'll earn a small commission while the price for you stays exactly the same. Income like this helps me travel independently and create new content.
More on Münster
You might also want to read:
- this post about fun restaurants in Münter
- my article about the Münster Christmas markets
Pin for later
I was a guest of Münster Marketing during my stay in the city. They invited me to come and check out the exhibitions. The German National Tourism Board supported my drive there and back. Make sure to check out their information page about Münster. As always when I enter partnerships like these, they had no say over what and how I'd write about my trip. My opinion will always be my own.