Paderborn is the centre of eastern Westphalia in northwestern Germany and takes its name from the roughly two hundred springs that rise in the middle of town. The Pader they form is, at only 4 kilometres, the shortest river in Germany, joining the Lippe a few hundred metres later. The city held an imperial palace in Charlemagne's time, and the meeting between Charlemagne and Pope Leo III here in 799 opened the way to the imperial coronation a year later. Today the city is equally known for its museum of computing history.
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See flights to Paderborn →When to visit Paderborn
May to September is the easiest stretch, with daytime temperatures between 18C and 24C and the springs park and the gardens of Schloss Neuhaus in full use. The Libori festival at the end of July is the city's largest and oldest, going back to 1113 and running nine days. November to March is cool and wet with temperatures between 2C and 8C.
Things to do in Paderborn
Paderborn Cathedral
The cathedral, which took its present form in the 13th century, dominates the city with its 104 metre tower and is the seat of the archbishop. The Three Hares Window in its cloister is a celebrated carving in which three hares share three ears between them, and the crypt holds the relics of Saint Liborius.
Pader Springs
In the park just north of the cathedral about two hundred springs rise from the ground, yielding thousands of litres a second. They join a few hundred metres later to form the Pader, walking paths in the park thread between the channels, and the spring pools hold the same temperature all year.
Kaiserpfalz
The imperial palace beside the cathedral was founded in the 8th century under Charlemagne, rebuilt in the 11th, and its remains were uncovered by excavations in the 1960s. The reconstructed building now houses the Kaiserpfalz Museum, whose displays cover early medieval Westphalia and the history of the palace itself.
Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum
Opened in 1996, the museum is regarded as the largest computer museum in the world, with 6,000 square metres of exhibition space. The route starts with counting tools of five thousand years ago and runs through mechanical calculators and the first computers to the present, with historic machines kept in working order.
Schloss Neuhaus
The four towered moated castle northwest of the city was built in the 16th century in the Weser Renaissance style and served as the summer residence of the prince bishops. Its baroque garden was reworked for the state garden show of 1994, and the castle now holds museums of city and natural history.
Externsteine
About 30 kilometres east of Paderborn, these sandstone pillars rising up to 40 metres in the Teutoburg Forest are a protected natural monument. A relief of the Descent from the Cross was carved into one of the rocks in the 12th century, and stairs lead up to the platforms on top.
Flights from Turkey to Paderborn
Direct flights to Paderborn from Turkey leave from Antalya, operated by Freebird Airlines, Pegasus, Corendon Airlines and SunExpress, and take about 3 hours 50 minutes. Paderborn Lippstadt Airport is near Buren, roughly 15 kilometres southwest of the city. From Istanbul the route is to fly into Dusseldorf, Frankfurt or Hannover and continue by train, about two hours from Dusseldorf.
Paderborn FAQ
How many days do you need in Paderborn?
One day covers the cathedral, the springs park and the Kaiserpfalz. A second day suits the computer museum and Schloss Neuhaus, and a third the Externsteine and the Teutoburg Forest.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
Paderborn Lippstadt Airport is about 15 kilometres from the centre, roughly 20 minutes by car. An airport bus runs straight to the main station in town, timed around the flight schedule.
Do you need a visa for Germany?
Germany is in the Schengen area and a Turkish passport needs a Schengen visa obtained in advance. Appointments get harder to find in summer, so it is safer to start the application at least two months before travel.
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