Soest can be explored through two very different aspects: its preserved city fortifications and the art in its churches. Two-thirds of Soest’s rampart wall have survived. Alongside Lucca in Tuscany, Soest has Europe’s only walkable, tree-lined city wall. This means the historical focus ranges from an urban fortification to individual buildings and collections. If you prefer to choose by historical period rather than focus on a single topic, the city offers several specific points of interest.
City Wall and Medieval Architectural History
Of the ten original gates in Soest’s city fortifications, only the Osthofentor gate has survived. Master builder Porphyrius built it between 1523 and 1526, replacing an earlier structure. Its construction therefore dates to the early modern period, while the original ten gates illustrate the larger context of the fortifications. The Osthofentor thus brings together the history of a single surviving gate and that of the former city fortifications.
The Romanesque House in the Burghof courtyard also tells a story of architectural history: what survives is part of a house that was originally larger. It is considered one of the oldest surviving secular residential buildings in Westphalia. The exhibits, meanwhile, are the focus at the Burghof Museum. Its 700 square meters of exhibition space are divided among five sections, including an exhibition on everyday life in the Middle Ages. The museum thus offers an entry point to historical topics through its collections, while the Romanesque House is connected to its architectural history as a surviving building.
Churches and Works of Art
St. Maria zur Wiese, also known as the Wiesenkirche, has 14th-century stained-glass windows in its choir. They are considered the most significant stained glass in Westphalia. The church is also known for the “Westphalian Last Supper,” created around 1500. The two works of art point to different periods: the stained glass dates from the 14th century, while the Last Supper was created about two centuries later. At the Provost Church of St. Patrokli, known in Soest as the “cathedral,” the “Westphalian Nativity Scene” is especially worth seeing at Christmas. It adds a distinctive seasonal highlight for a visit during the Christmas season.
Festivals and Digital Discoveries
For almost 700 years, Soest’s All Saints’ Fair has transformed the old town into a fairground for five days each November, attracting around one million visitors. If you are planning a trip around the event, the specific dates can help you choose when to travel. The “Soester Fehde” medieval festival offers a different historical setting: the city’s moats are transformed into a medieval military camp, while the old town takes on a medieval atmosphere.
There are two different ways to discover the old town digitally. The “Historic Soest” scavenger hunt leads through the old town, stopping at 16 locations. The free SoesTour tourism app offers a GPS-guided journey of discovery through the lanes and corners of the city. The number of stops provides a clear guide to the scavenger hunt, while the app describes its approach as GPS-guided exploration. This lets you choose between a format with set stops and a digital discovery tour of the old town.
A Food-Focused City Tour
The Soest Menu Safari combines a city tour with a four-course meal served at four different restaurants. One of the two starters is the Soest specialty “Westphalian Last Supper.” The experience thus combines a guided tour with several courses at different locations, with the “Westphalian Last Supper” included as one of the starters. Together with the churches, city fortifications, and digital experiences, it offers a range of different focal points for planning your stay: architectural history, art, seasonal events, or a city tour with a meal.
Discover more destinations: Ense, Welver, Warstein, Wickede, Anröchte, Rüthen, Geseke, Möhnesee.
Back to the main travel overview: Soest.
