Welcome to Osnabrück
Locations and directions
The city of peace, Osnabrück, is the third largest city in Lower Saxony with 164,000 inhabitants. It is the only German city which is situated in a national park –the ‘UNESCO Geo park TERRA.vita’, which includes the Teutoburg Forest and the ‘Wiehengebirge’.
Osnabrück is a university and diocesan town and the German Foundation for the Environment and the German Foundation for Peace Research are based here. Because Osnabrück is the city of the Peace of Westphalia and the home town to painter Felix Nussbaum and writer Erich Maria Remarque, it has committed itself to the idea of peace.
Osnabrück is the cultural centre of the western part of Lower Saxony and the vital centre of an economic region with around 780,000 inhabitants, which includes not only Lower Saxony but also parts of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Geographical location
Longitude of 8° 3’ 2” east
Latitude of 52° 16’ 28” north
Altitude (measured at Neumarkt) 64 metres above sea level
Highest point (at Piesberg) 190 metres above sea level
Lowest point (Hase in Pye) 54 metres above sea level
Area: total of 11,979 hectares
Directions
By car, caravan or bus
Osnabrück can be reached via the A1 motorway (Hamburg-Dortmund), the A30 motorway (Amsterdam-Bad Oeynhausen) and the motorway A33 (Diepholz-Bielefeld). Each of the exits leads you straight into the city centre. An automatic parking system guides you directly to the multi-storey car parks with available spaces.
By plane
The international airport Osnabrück-Münster (FMO) is about 30 minutes away from Osnabrück. At the international airport you are connected to the national and international network of routes. The express bus number 150 takes you to and from the airport within 40 minutes, 19 times a day.
By train
The historic railway station at the edge of the city centre is connected to the railway lines of the Deutsche Bahn. Running north-south, the InterCity trains from Hamburg-Basel stop in Osnabrück, running east-west the trains between Amsterdam and Berlin stop here. But the NordWestbahn and the ‘Haller Willem’, a regional train, also transport passengers into the region.
Yacht harbours in Osnabrück
By water Osnabrück is also easily reached. Osnabrück has space to dock boats, for those seeking relaxation at a quiet and beautiful location, which is perfect for walking and cycling. From the ‘Mittelland’ canal (at 30.4km), the branch canal leads straight to Osnabrück. Those who are looking for a quiet yacht harbour are spot on here.
From mission base to European city of peace culture
The history of Osnabrück began in 780, when the Emperor Charlemagne founded a mission on the banks of the River Hase. In 1002, the Bishop of Osnabrück was granted a charter to hold a market, mint coins and collect customs dues. Osnabrück developed, as a member of the Hanseatic League from 1412 to 1669, into a cultural and commercial centre open to the world. The city now enjoys both formal and informal links with many parts of the world, including Angers (F), Çanakkale (TR), Derby (UK), Evansville (USA), Gmünd (A), Greifswald (D), Haarlem (NL), Kwangmyong (ROK), Twer (RUS), Vila Real (P) and Hefei (VRC).
A city steeped in history
The long, rich history of Osnabrück is apparent on every corner, with the remains of the old city wall and its watchtowers, the castle dating from the 17th century and the town hall where the Peace of Westphalia was declared in 1648, bringing an end to the Thirty Years’ War. They all make Osnabrück’s history come to life. The historical old quarter of the city is particularly well preserved, with narrow winding alleys and old half-timbered houses that continue to lend it medieval charm right up to the present day.
City Map of Osnabrück
Would you like to know where a particular street or important building is located, or how far it is to the next kindergarten, school or church from where you live? Are you from out of town and are you looking for the town hall or the Felix Nussbaum House, for instance? Or perhaps you would like to get an impression of Osnabrück - the "City of Peace" - before you actually visit the city?
more...
Surrounded by countryside
Osnabrück is surrounded by green areas. The city lies in the middle of a large nature park: the Nature Reserve of the Northern Teutoburg Forest, Wiehengebirge Hills and Osnabrück Region – Terra.vita for short. It covers an area of 1,200 square kilometres, making it Germany’s biggest nature reserve. In 2004, the Terra.vita nature reserve was awarded UNESCO Geopark status on account of its extraordinary role as a geological heritage site. The varied landscape around Osnabrück is ideal for exploring on foot, by bicycle or on horseback.
Nature on your doorstep
There are also green spaces to relax in within the city. The castle gardens are right in the middle of Osnabrück. The Bürgerpark on the edge of the medieval old town is one of northern Germany’s oldest public parks, and you can also visit the Botanical Gardens of the University of Osnabrück. If you prefer a sunny stroll by the side of the water, come down to the banks of the River Hase, or the Rubbenbruchsee Lake in the woods on the edge of town.
Osnabrück live
In addition to the wide and varied range of museums, theatres, cinemas, bars and restaurants, the city is the site of several open-air events designed to keep visitors from the surrounding area and further afield entertained all year round, night after night. The biannual "Jahrmarkt" fair in spring is followed by May Week, one of northern Germany’s biggest music events, which includes live bands playing on more than ten open-air stages. There are also concerts and cinematic and cultural events to attract you to the old quarter of the city or castle gardens all summer long. A date for the diaries of gourmets from near and far is the culinary event "Eat Well in Osnabrück", with the holiday atmosphere provided by the participation of the restaurants and pavement cafés of Osnabrück city centre. Summer is rounded off nicely by the "Jahrmarkt" fair in autumn, which is in turn followed, from the end of November, by the whiff of freshly-roasted almonds and chestnuts and spicy "Glühwein" (mulled wine) from the historical Christmas Market. The Osnabrück Christmas Market, which attracts over a million visitors every year, was voted best Christmas market in northern Germany in 2004.
Unique: Felix Nussbaum Museum
The city is the site of the museum of the internationally renowned painter Felix Nussbaum, who was born in Osnabrück in 1904. Nussbaum, who died in 1944 in Auschwitz concentration camp, is regarded as one of the major painters of the 20th century. This unique museum, created by the renowned architect Daniel Libeskind, captivates the visitor with its highly individual structure and unusual interior design.
Extended Felix Nussbaum Haus opened its doors
On 6 May 2011 the Felix Nussbaum Haus and the Cultural History Museum Osnabrück opened their doors again after almost a year of reconstruction. The new extension creates a joint entrance area for both buildings and gives the museum a new face. more...
Peace and literature
Erich-Maria Remarque
Every two years, the city awards the Erich-Maria Remarque Peace Prize. The famous writer of "All Quiet on the Western Front", after whom the prize is named, was also born in Osnabrück. His personal and literary legacy forms one of the pillars on which the peace culture of the city of Osnabrück is based.
Getting close to history: Kalkriese Museum and Park
The Battle of Varus in the year 9 AD, which took place in Kalkriese near Osnabrück, was the scene of the slaughter of 10,000 Roman soldiers at the hands of Germanic tribes. The museum commemorates the battle with artefacts such as weapons, coins and pieces of armour. The park includes the remains of the defensive ramparts built by the Germanic tribesmen, which helped them overcome the highly-trained and disciplined Roman legions. The Kalkriese Museum and Park were awarded the European Culture Prize in 2005 for their innovative depictions of the Battle of Varus.
Tourist information:
We can supply you with a wealth of information for your visit in and around Osnabrück, including street guides, cycling route maps, guidebooks and a wide range of
souvenirs.
Tourist information
Osnabrück|Osnabrück region
Bierstraße 22 – 23
49074 Osnabrück, Germany
Tel.: 0049 (0)541 323-2202
Fax: 0049 (0)541 323-2709
Opening times
Monday to Friday 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hotel reservations (IRS):
Regardless of the reason for your visit and the length of your stay, or whether you prefer the city centre or the surrounding countryside, we have the right accommodation for you. We can also offer attractive ideas for making your trip more interesting.
Tel.: 0049 (0)541 9511195
Online bookings:
Internet:
www.osnabruecker-land.de
Congress Office:
We can organise all aspects of your event to your exact specifications. We can locate the right hotels and event facilities, organising all the bookings and making other arrangements for you and the participants in your event, making your and their stay in Osnabrück a positive experience to remember.
Tel.: 0049 (0)541 323-3074
Internet:
www.osnabrueck.de/tagungsbuero
Advance ticket sales:
We offer the best tickets for rock, pop, classical and folk music concerts, theatre and cabaret, plus regional stand-up and other comedy.
Tel.: 0049 (0)541 323-2202
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