- The Westphalian Gothic, combining traditions from the Rhineland and the Baltic
- A preference for sandstone-architecture rather than brick or half-timbering
- An endless number of moated castles and palaces

Westphalia, as the name would suggest, is the western part of something. In this case, the western part of the ancient Saxon Kingdom was brutally suppressed by Charlemagne and then incorporated into his empire. In this ancient sense, Westphalia includes a bit more of the Weser Valley and all of the Sauerland except the small part around Siegen.
In more modern times, Westphalia was to be differentiated from the Münsterland and the districts on the Ems river. It became increasingly associated with the Sauerland and the small strip of land on the North Side of the Ruhr. 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.
Despite near-total annihilation in WWII, both great cities, Münster and Dortmund, still show the wealth the region once offered. The Bishop of Münster and the Imperial City of Dortmund sat on strategic trade routes that facilitated the transfer of ideas and wealth. The beauty of the region lies in its towns and countless castles. It is certainly a region worth your visit.
Hiking: The Dortmund-Ems Canal
For those of us without cars, travel can sometimes be a challenge. Here are two interesting industrial monuments, the Zeche Waltrop and the Boat Lift…
Hiking: The Hohe Mark
The Hohe Mark is a nature park focused on the mixed forest and agricultural landscapes of Münsterland. Most of this hike takes you through the…
Hiking: Münsterland Panorama
The flat plains of Westphalia around the city of Münster are colloquially referred to as the Münsterland. Despite the lack of serious topographic disturbance, the…
Hiking: Legacy of the Mines
This is more of a niche hiking experience, but one that could still prove interesting from various perspectives. The route travels up and around several…
- Hype: 2.5
- Growth: 4.1
- Wealth: 4.6
- Recognition: 3.9
- Accommodation: 3.4
- Transportation: 4.9
- Ease of Planning: 5.0
- Infrastructure: 5.8
- Interactivity: 3.9
- Airport: Yes
- Historical Context: 1.6
- Monuments: 6.1
- Quality*: 6.0
- Landscape: 2.5
- Vineyards: 0
- Undiscovered: 1.4
- Cultural Immersion: 7.4
- Tradition*: 5.0