The modern, smaller Westphalia is a vast fertile plain that traces the arc of the Ems River as it flows out of the Egge Mountains and into East Frisia. Historically it was home to the powerful Prince-Bishops of Münster and Paderborn, along with several other minor principalities. Though WWII saw both cities reduced to ash, travel through our Westphalian inheritance focuses on the hundreds of beautiful castles, palaces, and small towns scattered across the region.
The beauty of Westphalia lies in its beautiful cultural landscape, either in the fertile fields of Münsterland or along the winding Ems River Landscape. The region was devastated by the Second World War, and most major cities were totally or partially destroyed. However, the reconstructed centers in Osnabrück and Münster still form the region’s highlights. To truly immerse yourself in Westphalia, travel to smaller towns, villages, forests, and riverside groves. Villages like Lippstadt, Rheda, or Meppen offer authentic Westphalian charm.
Westphalia was the homeland of the Saxon Tribes in the ages before the arrival of Christianity. Situated along the Ems River, this watershed basin is home to fertile land and large tracts of forests. Rugged mountainous landscapes surround the southern and eastern edges of the Westphalian basin. According to legend, the Romans marched across Westphalia under the Banner of Varrus before meeting their end at the battle of Teutoberger Forest at the eastern edge. To the north, great plains extend to the north and west, whose only geographical landmarks are the great waterways across it.
Westphalia, as the name would suggest, is the western part of something. In this case, it refers to the western part of the ancient Saxon Kingdom until it was brutally suppressed by Charlemagne and incorporated into his empire. This Westphalia, though, was much larger than our modern conception. It encompassed much of the Weser Valley and extended south of Siegen. Centuries of split dynastic inheritance saw the size of Westphalia shrink dramatically.
The modern definition of Westphalia can vary greatly and includes much of the region marked on my map or only the small region along the right bank of the Ruhr. You could argue that the Münsterland should be differentiated, similar to how the Sauerland is treated separately. However, the Münsterland is too small. As the Sauerland has traditions of its own, it makes more sense to look at the original incarnation of Westphalia, a land of great cities and great rivers.
