Paderquellgebiet

The Pader Headwaters

The headwaters of the Pader spring north of downtown Paderborn. They flow through the headwaters area and merge into a single river before reaching the Old Town Ring. In the Schloß Neuhaus neighborhood, the Pader flows into the Lippe.

Between Mühlenstraße and Paderhalle, the Pader’s headwater branches—which had previously been heavily enclosed by structures—and the adjacent open spaces were redesigned. This included work on the watercourses as well as the redesign of Inselspitzenweg, Haxthausengarten, and an open space along the water behind the Reinekemühle.

The area can be explored via paths and a small footbridge, from which a bubbling spring can be seen up close. Seating areas invite visitors to take a break by the water. From the viewing platform at the Stümpelsche Mühle, visitors can observe the confluence of the Pader’s source streams.

The Pader Spring Area Through the Ages

The Pader headwaters were originally located outside the city walls and were not incorporated into them until the Middle Ages. The marshy area remained largely undeveloped for a long time. Among the few buildings was the Cathedral Deanery, which today houses the city library. As the city grew, the area surrounding the springs also changed.

For centuries, mills and breweries shaped the riverbanks. After the destruction of World War II, the headwaters area was redesigned as an inner-city green space and recreational area. Lawns, trees, paths, and waterways have defined its appearance ever since. Later, parts of the area were redesigned again and supplemented with paths and recreational areas.

A tornado damaged the spring area and destroyed numerous older trees. The subsequent cleanup efforts and restoration of the affected areas mark another chapter in the development of this inner-city open space.