Osnabrück is the only major German city situated in the heart of the TERRA.vita UNESCO Global Geopark. But that’s certainly not the only thing that makes Osnabrück special— known as the City of Peace, Osnabrück boasts an accurately restored Altstadt (Old Town) with medieval architecture and historic buildings that survived the destruction of World War II.

A mid-sized city located in the state of Lower Saxony in northwest Germany, Osnabrück was founded way back in the 8th century. The modern-day city is recognized for its strongly performing industrial sectors, including automobile, paper, steel, and grocery, as well as for its prestigious universities.

Osnabrück is said to be home to some of the most satisfied citizens in Germany. Whether you choose to visit in the spring, summer, fall, or winter, there will surely be something going on in the city to check out.

Top three things to do in Osnabrück

Traverse the city’s award-winning hiking and biking trails

Starting from the centre of Osnabrück and extending far into the TERRA.vita UNESCO Global Geopark, the dense network of trails found in the city provides an excellent launching point to hike and cycle through some of Germany’s most beautiful natural landscapes.

Admire Osnabrück’s historic medieval landmarks

Medieval structures such as the 13th-century Romanesque St. Peter’s Cathedral and St. Mary's Church facing onto Market Square (Marketplatz) are absolutely worth seeing while in the city. And don’t forget to stop by the late-Gothic Town Hall (Rathaus), the place where the Peace of Westphalia was signed.

Delve deeper into local history and culture at Museumsquartier

Osnabrück has an array of museums in close proximity to one another — this area is known to locals as Museumsquartier. One of the city’s most famous museums is Felix Nussbaum Haus, an art museum dedicated to Felix Nussbaum, an Osnabrück-born German-Jewish painter who was executed at the Auschwitz concentration camp.