Paderborn is a small city of about 100,000 in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe region of North Rhine-Westphalia. People have settled here since pre-Roman times, drawn by the springs of the Pader — one of the shortest rivers in Germany, rising in over 200 springs right in the city centre.
The cathedral is the centrepiece, and built into one of its windows is the city's main landmark: the Drei-Hasen-Fenster (Three Hares Window), showing three rabbits arranged in a circle, each sharing an ear with its neighbour — an optical illusion that has fascinated visitors for centuries. The old town around the cathedral is compact and walkable, and the Chapel of St. Bartholomäus nearby is the oldest hall church north of the Alps, built in 1017 by Byzantine craftsmen.
Once a year in summer Paderborn celebrates Libori, a week-long festival that combines a church procession, a funfair, and a great deal of beer. It has been held since 836 and draws visitors from across the region. The Heinz Nixdorf MuseumsForum, one of the world's largest computer museums, is a significant draw for technology enthusiasts.