natural wonder
Externsteine
Five dramatic sandstone pillars rise from the Teutoburg Forest, carved with medieval reliefs and steeped in pagan legend.
47 km · about 55 min drive
EuropeGermanyNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Minden
North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany · Europe
About Minden
Minden sits on the route: 10 minutes from Porta Westfalica, 47km from Externsteine.
Minden is in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with about 83,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Porta Westfalica, about 7 km away.
Minden (German: [ˈmɪndn̩] ) is a middle-sized town in the very north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, the largest town in population between Bielefeld and Hanover. It is the capital of the district (Kreis) of Minden-Lübbecke, situated in the cultural region of Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL) and the administrativeRead more
region of Detmold. The town extends along both sides of the River Weser, and is crossed by the Mittelland Canal, which is led over the river on the Minden Aqueduct.
In its 1,200-year written history, Minden had functions as diocesan town from 800 CE to the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 CE, as capital of the Prince-Bishopric of Minden as imperial territory since the 12th century, afterwards as capital of Prussia's Minden-Ravensberg until the end of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806, and as capital of the East-Westphalian region from the Congress of Vienna until 1947. Furthermore, Minden has been of great military importance with fortifications from the 15th to the late 19th century, and is still a garrison town.
Minden hosts diverse industries, none predominant. The town has been terminus of one of the oldest German railway trunks since 1847, adding to the multimodal transport hub between its harbour, federal roads, and a nearby highway (Autobahn) junction.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Minden?
Within an hour or so of Minden: Externsteine (47 km), Herrenhausen Gardens (54 km), Bilster Berg (56 km).
Where is Minden?
Minden is in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, about 7 km from Porta Westfalica.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 82,879
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Germany
- Region
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Timezone
- Europe/Berlin
- Coordinates
- 52.2895, 8.9146
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Germany
ADAC roadside assistance: +49 89 22 22 22. No general speed limit on some autobahn sections but advisory 130 km/h.
Full driving guide for GermanyTags
Worth the detour from Minden
3 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Herrenhausen Gardens
Hanover's grand baroque garden, one of Europe's finest, with geometric parterres, fountains and a glowing grotto.
54 km · about 65 min drive
racetrack
Bilster Berg
A private 4.2km circuit built in a former British Army ammunition depot in the Teutoburg Forest, with 70m of elevation change, blind crests and a Mausefalle-style plunge. Access is by track day or driving experience only.
56 km · about 65 min drive
Driving in Germany
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
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