The Westphalia Department in Münster
The Westphalia department of the Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen holds documents covering twelve centuries of Westphalian history, making it a central point of contact for historical research and interested citizens of the region.
The historical records of the former State Archives in Münster include extensive holdings from ecclesiastical and secular territories as well as secularised monasteries in the former Prussian province of Westphalia prior to 1815.
The Westphalia department of the Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen is now responsible for the state authorities, courts, tax offices and other institutions in the administrative districts of Arnsberg and Münster. In addition to the state records, the holdings also include archive material from other sources.
The archive has a modern reading room, hosts events, publishes numerous publications and offers a wide range of educational activities.
How to find us:
A 15-minute walk from the main railway station or by bus lines 4 and 17 (stop ‘Hörstertor’).
A car park at the rear of the building can be used free of charge by users of the LAV NRW.
Information about the limited barrier-free access to the building can be found under the menu item ‘Working in the reading room’.
The Westphalia Department in Münster
Opening Times & Contact
Your Contact
Bohlweg 2
48147 Münster
Germany
Wednesday + Thursday 8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Please send postal enquiries to: Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen, 40208 Düsseldorf.
Please note that it can take up to four weeks for the Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen to respond to enquiries.
On Wednesday, 10 September, Friday, 26 September, and Monday, 29 September 2025, the reading room of the Westphalia department will be closed due to internal events.
The Westphalia department of the Landesarchiv Nordrhein-Westfalen holds around 100,000 parchment documents, including 114 medieval imperial and royal documents, the oldest of which dates from 813. In addition, there are approximately 30 kilometres of files, official records and manuscripts, as well as around 80,000 maps and plans.
Among the oldest and most valuable sources are a fragment from the work of Isidore of Seville from the 7th century, an Easter table from Corvey from the 7th to 12th centuries, a papyrus document from the papal chancellery from 891, a purple document from Emperor Conrad III from 1151, and the manuscript of the ‘Lex Saxonum’ from around 950, which records Saxon folk law.
Here you will find an overview of the archive and library holdings of the Westphalia Department!
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