Place where history was made
Münster town hall is a gothic building with a characteristic pediment and was constructed in the middle of the 14th century. In the 1950s the town hall was restored according to the original designs. The most famous premises in the town hall is the Hall of Peace (Friedenssaal) where in 1648 the Peace of Westphalia treaty was signed, putting an end to the Thirty Years’ War. The hall, decorated with carved wooden panels looks imposing and solemn.
Münster takes its reputation of a peacemaker seriously. Every autumn a series of events are conducted in the city called “1648 – Dialogues for Defending Peace”. Twice a year Münster Economic Community of Westphalia and Lippe awards Westphalian award of peace. A gold coated silver goblet in the shape of a rooster is kept in the town hall. According to the legend, it was this bird that involuntarily saved Münster during a long siege. In the city suffering from lack of provision, one town councilor was hiding a rooster – for a rainy day. But when he finally decided to kill the poor bird, the rooster, being scared of the knife escaped and flied up to the town wall. Seeing it, enemies decided that there is still lots of food in Münster and raised the siege.
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