To the southwest of Münster’s old town centre lies an important area for recreation in the heart of theMünsterland – the Aasee (Aa Lake) and the green areas around it. The western section of the lake in particular is an important ecological enhancement for the city’s balance of nature due to its near-natural structure and extensive flood areas with shallows and wetlands.
The areas directly adjacent to the city, by contrast, have a more structured garden design, their extensive shaped lawns and large groups of shrubs and trees giving them a definite park-like character.
The historical rampart promenade directly at the Aasee surrounds Münster like a ring and has a long history. Boasting a four-row avenue of linden trees and many structures bearing witness to the historical development of the city and its fortification, the Promenade is both an area for recreation and a corridor for cyclists.
To the southwest of Münster’s old town centre lies an important area for recreation in the heart of theMünsterland – the Aasee (Aa Lake) and the green areas around it. The western section of the lake in particular is an important ecological enhancement for the city’s balance of nature due to its near-natural structure and extensive flood areas with shallows and wetlands.
The areas directly adjacent to the city, by contrast, have a more structured garden design, their extensive shaped lawns and large groups of shrubs and trees giving them a definite park-like character. Every few years in winter, the frozen lake becomes a popular area for ice-skating.
The Aaseevorplatz with its three over-sized pool balls by American artist Claes Oldenburg has now become the emblem of the university city and a summer meeting place for students. The three concrete pool balls, each measuring 3.5 metres in diameter, were erected on the northern Aasee terraces for Münster’s first sculpture project in 1977. The Wewerka Pavillon on the western shore has a view of the lake and is an attractive place for outings due to its exhibitions from the Academy of Fine Arts and various art installations.
The historical rampart promenade directly at the Aasee forms a kind of ring around Münster and has a long history. Boasting a four-row avenue of linden trees and many structures bearing witness to the historical development of the city and its fortification, the Promenade is both an area for recreation and a corridor for cyclists.
Some areas of the Promenade are particularly worth mentioning. The Engelenschanze is a sconce which formed part of the city fortifications and was once completely surrounded by a moat. The mighty old copper beech which stands above the atmospheric seating area at the edge of the moat dates from this period.
An attractive view of the Aasee can be had from the former bastion known as the Kanonenberg.
The Promenade continues along the high rampart of the Neuwerk fortifications, from where there is a rewarding view of the city and its wide variety of church towers. This is where the only remainder of the medieval town wall has survived. It can be seen behind the tournament ground’s large expanse of grass and the channelled Aa river. The garden in front of the wall is bordered by a hedge which is more than 100 years old and is trimmed into the shapes of figures.
The Gerichtsstrasse runs as far the south side of the Schlossplatz and continues along the Promenadenalleeto the palace. The Promenade has a noticeable gap at the two former Baroque guardhouses. From the time the avenue was planted, the view towards the palace from the city was to be kept free.
The Promenade then continues towards the east, past an old linden tree dating from the first generations of promenade trees and as far as what is known as the “Wasserbär”. The unusual “water bear” building with its small tower and low wall for backing up water served to regulate the level of water in the moat of the outer city fortifications.
The Kreuzschanze is the only fortification structure which has survived in its entirety. Two smaller ponds can still be identified as the remains of the outer moat while two mounds on which cannon were originally placed rise up distinctly. The Kreuzschanze was designed as a garden in the late 19th century. Several old solitary trees date from this period. Particularly striking are the plane trees, beech trees, various chestnut trees and an old Indian bean tree.
The streets at the Promenade are a favoured residential area amongst the town citizens. Some impressive town villas from the 19th and 20th centuries can be seen on the further section of the Promenade in particular. The waterfall in this area was created at the turn of the century and is a noteworthy feature of garden design. Designed with large boulders and irregularly shaped blocks, the waterfall was re-instated in 1988 on the basis of old photographs to great public interest. Two picturesque ponds still exist as the remains of the outer moat of the city fortifications.
The Promenade is of great significance to Münster in terms of the city’s history. As an area of transregional importance with protected garden status, it forms an historical green space of unique cohesion in the Münsterland which has no need to shy away from comparison with the well-known ramparts of Cologne, Bremen or Lübeck.
Adresse:
Promenade Münster und Aaseepark
Annette-Allee 3
48149 Münster
www.aaseepark.de
www.muenster.de
Eigentümer: Stadt Münster
Öffnungszeiten: Ganzjährig geöffnet.
Eintrittspreise: freier Eintritt
Touristische Informationen:
Restaurant/Cafe: ja>
WC: In den umliegenden Cafes und Warenhäusern. Öffentliches WC am hinteren Aasee.
Parken: In den Parkhäusern der Innenstadt und auf dem Schlossplatz. Bitte beachten Sie das Parkleitsystem.
Weitere Informationen über den Park:
Übersichtsplan/Gartenplan: Zahlreiche Hinweistafeln erläutern die Geschichte der Promenade.
Beschilderung an den Pflanzen: nein
Bänke im Park: ja
Durchschnittliche Aufenthaltsdauer: Promenade 1-2 Stunden; Aaseepark 1-3 Stunden
Barrierefreier Zugang: Die Hauptwege sind für Menschen mit Mobilitätsbehinderung zugänglich
Hunde: Hunde sind an der Leine zuführen.
Fahrräder: Fahrradfahren gestattet.
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