Touring Paderborn - Part One

Tuesday morning we took a tour of Paderborn.  From Martina's house, the city center is only about a 20 minute walk along the very nice pedestrian paths along the river Pader (shortest river in Germany).

First up, the Paderborn Cathedral, which is about 700 years old.  The first church (there have been 5 on the same site), was built by Charlemagne in 777.

The creche/crib, carved from wood.

The cloister of the cathedral houses the 'famous' Three Hares Window, which dates back to the 16th century and depicts three jumping hares in a circle.  The picture only shows three ears, yet each of the hares appears to have a complete pair of ears.  The circular movement is the ancient symbol of the cycle of the moon; rising, descending, and becoming invisible and rising again.  Thus, the hare window is an image of the beginning and the ending of life, but also a sign of new creation.

Replicas of the Hare Window can be found throughout town, and have become the symbol of Paderborn.