After the violent subjugation of the pagan Saxon tribes Paderborn was founded as a bishopric by Charlemagne in 795, although its official history began in 777 when Charlemagne built a castle near the springs of the Pader river. In 799 Pope Leo III fled his enemies in Rome and reached Paderborn, where he met Charlemagne, and stayed there for three months. It was during this time that it was decided that Charlemagne would be crowned emperor. Charlemagne reinstated Leo in Rome in 800 and was crowned as Holy Roman Emperor by Leo in return.

In 836, St. Liborius became the patron saint of Paderborn after his bones were moved there from Le Mans. The bishop of Paderborn, Meinwerk, became a Prince of the Empire in 1100.

The oldest surviving document bearing a city seal dates from 1222. In the same year, the citizens revolted against the bishop's rule. In 1225, King Henry VII significantly curtailed the power of the episcopal count and granted privileges to the citizenry. The city name "Paderborn" was officially established in 1241. In 1247, Emperor Frederick II bestowed the title of "Prince-Bishop" upon Bishop Simon I of Lippe.

The "Museum in der Kaiserpfalz" (Museum in the Imperial Palace) is located next to the cathedral on the site where, in 1964, the foundations of the 8th-century Paderborn Palace and a later structure from the time of Henry II were discovered.

The exhibition "775 - Westphalia" was opened in 2025.


Comb, ivory, 12th century