Page 421 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

NOR TH RHINE-WESTPHALIA  419

in 1838–75. It was supposed to
symbolize the German struggle
for unification.
Two fascinating attractions
near Detmold are the
Adlerwarte Berlebeck, an
ornithological research station,
where eagles and many other
birds of prey can be observed,
and the Vogelpark Heiligen­
kirchen, a bird park with over
2,000 vari eties of birds in all
shapes and sizes from around
the world.
k Bielefeld
Road map C3. * 325,000. The Wasserstraßenkreuzung (waterway junction) in Minden
£ @ n Niederwall 23
(0521-51 69 99). _ Hermann- church holds the tomb of one l Minden
slauf (Apr), Leinenweber- of the von Ravensberg dukes Road map C3. * 85,000. £ @
Markt (May), Bielefelder Kultur- (around 1320) and a high altar n Domstraße 2 (0571-829 06 59).
Sommer (May–Sep), Sparren- (from around 1400) with a _ Klassik-Open-Air (Jul/Aug).
burgfest (Jul), Weinmarkt central Gothic section.
(Sep), Weihnachtsmarkt (Dec). Charlemagne created a
Environs bishopric here as early as 798.
On the edge of the Picturesque Herford, The town evolved thanks to
Teutoburg Forest, Bielefeld 17 km (11 miles) north of its strategic location on the
owes its evo lution to the Bielefeld, has timber- Weser river. The city’s most
production of and trading frame houses, beautiful important monument is the
in linen. The old town is Gothic churches and cathedral, Dompfarrkirche
dominated by the MARTa Herford, an art St Petrus und St Gorgonius.
Sparrenburg castle, built in and design museum It has a Romanesque presbytery,
the 13th century for the von by Frank O Gehry. In transept and monumental
Ravensberg family. In the Enger, 21 km (13 miles) frontage built in the 11th–12th
1500s the castle was to the north, in the centuries, although the body
surrounded by new former church of the of the church is an example of
fortifications including canons, a tomb early-Gothic style from the
new bastions, and in the Hermannsdenkmal, dating from 1100 13th century. It is worth visi ting
19th century the near Detmold holds the remains the church treasury with its
residential part of the city of the Saxon Duke 11th-century crucifix.
was greatly extended. Widukind, buried in 807. The Rathaus (town hall),
The central feature of the old The spa town of Bad Salz­ with 13th-century lower
town is Alter Markt (old market), uflen, with its pretty old town sections, is worth seeing, as
with the Nicolaikirche. This and spa, is ideal for relaxation. are Minden’s many charming
Gothic church suffered heavily houses around the market
in World War II, although the square. A great attraction is the
marvellous Antwerp altar Wasserstraßen kreuz (waterway
(around 1520) was pre served. junction), where a 375-m
Nearby, on Obernstraße, stands (1,230-ft) long bridge takes
the Crüwell­Haus, an inter- the Mittellandkanal across
esting late-Gothic town house the Weser river.
from the early 16th century. The
street leads to St Jodo kus­ Environs
Kirche, a late-Gothic church, On top of a hill in Porta
whose greatest treasure is the Westfalica, 6 km (4 miles) south
amazing figure of the Black of Minden, is a giant monument
Madonna (around 1220). to Kaiser Wilhelm (1892–6) by
Further south is the Kunst halle, Bruno Schmitz.
a modern building with a signi- The Westfälische Mühlen­
ficant collection of 20th-century straße, (Westphalian mill route),
art. It is also worth visiting the signposted around Minden,
Marienkirche in the new town. An observation tower in the Sparrenburg takes visitors past 42 different
Built in 1280–1330, this Gothic complex in Bielefeld mills and windmills.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp500–501 and pp526–9

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