2023

We stopped again in Paderborn, just on the way, and walked around the centre for a few hours. I noticed that the centre had somehow changed, but I couldn't figure out what was changed. Already at home, I looked at satellite images and indeed, most of the trees have disappeared in the last year. I have made this gif, click and see the difference.


At first I thought it was a reconstruction, but this is Germany and it is not easy to cut down trees here, especially in the city centre. It turned out that in May 2022 a powerful tornado passed through the centre (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkQrZ15L_GE).

The parks downtown look like this now. I can't say they look worse, I'd say quite the opposite.














More photos of the centre.






















2013

Paderborn appeared in 777, when the Frankish king Charlemagne founded the residence here. The place was not chosen by chance, there are more then 200 water sources in this area. In the heart of the city, the water comes to the surface and flows into the Pader river read more...

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The highest point of the island of Rügen. The tower was built from 1869 to 1877 in honor of the German poet Ernst Moritz Arndt, who devoted his works to the beauty of the island read more...

Tower of the Austrian architect Hundertwasser in the town of Abensberg read more...

The longest water bridge in the world (as of 2019), 918 meters long. Such bridges appear because of the construction of water channels, which sometimes pass at a different height than the rivers read more...

One of the earliest baroque castles in Westphalia, built in the 17th century. Was not rebuilt, so now you can see the original, 350-year-old castle read more...

The picturesque castle on the hill, first mentioned in 1221. Throughout the history, it took part in many battles and was a refuge during the wars read more...

Beautiful water castle near Münster. From 1417 belonged to the noble family of von Hulshoff, the castle hosts their museum read more...

A large park on the site of the former mine. Such parks are now very popular in the Ruhr region, which already been transformed from an industrial region into a cultural one. Construction began in 2009, when the mine was dismantled. The main part of the park was completed in 2014 read more...

In 1979, an otter research project was launched in the Harz Mountains. It lasted until 1986 and then it was decided to open a full-fledged nursery, which was done in 1988 in the town of Hankensbüttel read more...

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In 2000, a Wild West-style town opened in the Hartz Mountains. "Megapolis" of the 19th century offers a wide range of entertainment with shows that change every hour. Just be aware that the shows are completely non-violent, there is no shooting or glorification of violence read more...

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In 2007 and 2008, paleontologists from the State Museum of Lower Saxony in Hanover discovered dinosaur tracks in one of the sandstone quarries in Oberkirchen. The footprints were found in sandstone 6 to 9 meters thick, which here lies beneath younger layers read more...

Hamburg's city park was opened in 1914 and appeared due to the expansion of the city and the absorption of the surrounding forests and garden farms read more...

An open-air park-museum built around the Dinosaur Footprints of Münchehagen (Naturdenkmal Saurierfährten Münchehagen). The exhibits are mainly life-size models of dinosaurs read more...

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Small and little known ruins of a castle dating back to 1153. Although most of it is not preserved, the castle is located in a forest and is quite picturesque read more...

Since 1213, there was a monastery on the site, which was confiscated in favor of the state in 1803. King Georg III donated the abandoned former monastery of Derneburg and its property to the Hanoverian minister Ernst Friedrich Herbert zu Münster read more...

A former hunting lodge built by Duke Welf Magnus I. (Welfenherzog Magnus I.) in Schöningen in the first half of the 14th century read more...

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The remains of one of the largest and oldest castles in the South Harz region. The castle was built in the early 13th century and served as the residence of the Counts of Honstein, who played a significant role in the medieval history of Thuringia read more...

Wooden observation tower located on the Wiehen hills (Wiehengebirge) in Lower Saxony. A popular local tourist attraction. It is part of a network of hiking trails through the Wiehen Hills and is accessible to visitors all year round read more...

A small resort town known for its healing mineral springs. The first mentions of local springs date back to the 17th century, and since then Bad Ihlsen has become a popular place for recreation and health improvement read more...

The observation tower on the slope of the Weser Mountains (Wesergebirge) near the town of Rinteln which was built at the end of the 19th century. There is a small café near the tower, so the tower has opening hours, be sure to check them. If the tower is closed, ask for the key at the cafe read more...

Since 1900, there had been a restaurant and a wooden tower on this site. In 1931, with the help of donations, an iron tower was built. The modern, reinforced concrete tower, 22 metres high, appeared in 1985, also thanks to donations read more...

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Reservoir in the mountains of the Harz. The dam was built in 1934 to protect against floods and to producе electricity. You can park near the dam and walk along it read more...

Reservoir in the mountains of the Harz. The dam was built in 1956 to protect against floods, regulate water levels and generate electricity. You can park near the dam and walk along it, there is also a restaurant read more...

Popular place in the region around Münster (Münsterland). The main attraction is an unusual rock in the form of... somebody read more...

The complex of three castles located on the hills in the middle of the fields. The place is quite famous, as the castles are located near one of the German autobahns read more...

An absolutely unknown, but very unusual place. It is called the Water Tree and it has an interesting story read more...

The first building on this site was first mentioned in 1310. In the 16th century the castle was fortified with moats. In 1584, it passed into the hands of the Von Mengersen family, who reconstructed it in the Weser Renaissance style. Also farm buildings were attached, they still exist nowadays read more...

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The castle was built between 1657 and 1683 and has not been rebuilt since. The castle building itself is not particularly interesting, but in combination with the other buildings of the estate and especially the castle park, it leaves a pleasant impression. Entrance is free, so if you're in the neighborhood, be sure to take a walk in the park read more...

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