Herford – Art, Architecture and City History

Herford combines contemporary art and architecture with a long history. There are also places to visit and trails in the surrounding area. When planning your trip, you can consider whether you would like to focus on museums, historic buildings or outdoor activities. These interests can help you choose accommodation, without implying any particular hotel amenities or a specific location.

Marta Herford: Art and Architecture

Marta Herford is an internationally oriented museum of contemporary art. A particular focus is on its connections with architecture and design. The museum building itself makes these themes immediately visible: it has curved and sloping walls, and its façade was designed by American architect Frank Gehry. The dynamic spatial volumes turn each exhibition into a distinct spatial experience. Art and architecture are therefore not separate here, but are among the museum’s defining themes.

Accessibility is also important for visitors: the museum can be reached without barriers from the station forecourt. All exhibition and visitor areas are accessible via ramps or a lift. Herford is an IC/ICE station. If you plan your stay around different interests, you can combine Marta with the city’s historic buildings, rather than focusing your visit solely on one museum theme.

Herford Minster and City History

Herford Minster was the church of the Imperial Abbey of Herford and the original parish church of Herford. Its architectural history dates back to the Middle Ages: from 1220, Abbess Gertrud II of Lippe had it built in the late Romanesque style over an earlier Ottonian structure. The minster is considered the first large-scale hall church in northern Germany. Its architectural features also include High and Late Gothic additions on the scale of a cathedral.

The minster’s significance extends beyond its own architectural history. It served as a model for many churches of the same type and gave significant impetus to the spread of Gothic architecture. Those interested in architecture can trace both local history and a broader development in church architecture through this single building. The contrast in period with the modern museum building Marta Herford offers another perspective on Herford’s architecture: medieval forms stand alongside a contemporary museum building, although the two represent different functions and eras.

Museums at Daniel-Pöppelmann-Haus

Daniel-Pöppelmann-Haus comprises Villa Schönfeld, built for an entrepreneur, and an exhibition hall added later. The architecturally remarkable ensemble is worth seeing in its own right. At the Municipal Museum there, exhibits and media stations offer a varied introduction to Herford’s more than 1,200-year history. The Herford Art Association and the Municipal Museum also invite visitors to enjoy a varied program of art and history.

At Daniel-Pöppelmann-Haus, the building and its contents come together in a different way than at Marta: a historic villa and a later-added exhibition hall meet exhibits on local history and media offerings. This makes it a fitting stop if you would like to complement art and architecture with a look at Herford’s development.

Trails and Places to Visit

The Füllenbruch nature reserve is located near Herford. The 138-hectare protected area lies between the western edge of Herford and Oetinghausen, a district of the municipality of Hiddenhausen. The route of the former narrow-gauge railway from Herford to Enger runs through the area. Today, it is a regional trail popular with cyclists and walkers. The former railway line thus offers a present-day way to experience the protected area on foot or by bike.

The Bismarck Tower stands on the Stuckenberg in Herford. It is a popular destination for excursions and an important historic monument. Its observation platform offers impressive views across the region. A trip there offers a different focus from a museum visit: the monument and the view take center stage, while Füllenbruch brings together a nature reserve and a trail.

Explore the City with a Different Focus

The interactive scavenger hunt through Herford gives participants a fun way to get to know the city and discover its historical, architectural and cultural aspects. It takes about two to three hours. For a stronger focus on history, there is the “Between Gothic and Gehry” group tour, which covers Herford’s founding and development through to the construction of the Marta museum. The two activities therefore offer different focuses: the scavenger hunt emphasizes playful discovery, while the history tour explores the city’s development up to a specific building. Check the tour’s current dates in advance.

When choosing a hotel in Herford, you can use these themes to guide your stay: art and architecture, city history or an excursion into the countryside. The places and activities mentioned offer different reasons to visit, without implying any particular accommodation or its features.

Discover more destinations: Löhne, Sundern, Kirchlengern, Rödinghausen, Bünde, Hiddenhausen, Vlotho, Spenge.

Back to the main travel overview: Herford.