pader-europe | pader-europe

The Pader for Europe

Under the title "City. People. River. – The Pader for Europe", the city of Paderborn is applying for the European Heritage Label 2025 with the unique urban river landscape of the Pader.

The Pader

Habitat from humans to kingfishers

Source of life, heritage of water culture, a spectacular headwaters and an impressive history: the Pader - the shortest river in Germany - is only 4.6 kilometres long and offers material for facts and stories of all kinds. Paderborn's water history is unique. And it is the basis for the people, culture and nature - both in the city itself and as an example for Europe.

On this website you will find all information about the application process, information about current events, lots of interesting facts and sustainable ideas about the Pader - the shortest river in Germany with a lot of history. Accompany Paderborn on its way to the European Heritage Label!

The Pader nature reserve

The history of the Pader

The Pader recreational area

Our application

The city of Paderborn is applying for the European Heritage Label 2025 with its unique urban river landscape as part of the important heritage of water culture in Europe!

Paderborn's water heritage tells the story of how water has been utilised in the city for centuries and the technical innovations that this has led to throughout Europe.

Learn more

Our partners

We would like to thank all supporters of the application project. The numerous accompanying activities, events and measures make the project "City. People. River. - The Pader for Europe" a very special one.

Learn more

Experience the Pader

Here you can gain an insight into the very different formats. They offer great value for the development of further ideas for the Paderborn Laboratory and the European Water Culture Learning Sites.

To the topic overview

Off to the sources

ND Federal Congress in Paderborn

Kneipp water treading was a complete success

Second appointment on Wednesday at 5 pm

“Paderwasser - a great treasure, especially for women”

Kneipp water treading on April 5 and 9 at the city library

List of the participating artists published

For the “Paderborn crime scene” 2025

Open discussion about Art and the Pader

On March 27 at the Deelenhaus

A Journey along the Pader

Follow the water from the source to the mouth

European networking

Meeting with Verena Mertens, Member of the European Parliament

National acknowledgement for Pader-project

Application for the European Heritage Label for the nomination year 2025 is being submitted to the European Commission

WaterWalk was a great success

Project team and pupils collected donations for the WDR2 Christmas miracle

The learning sites

Discover the special learning sites of European water culture along the Pader on the interactive map. From the headwaters to the Pader-Lippe confluence, the 13 stations can be experienced virtually.

Learn more

Enjoy a tour of Paderborn

Live temperature measurement

The unusually constant temperature of some Pader springs has always been a source of amazement. Historical travel reports and the first geological investigations bear witness to this special feature of the Pader water, which is still perceptible today.

Learn more

Paderpedia

As a Citizen Sciences project, the collective knowledge of the citizens about the history, culture and ecology of the Pader river landscape is continuously collected in this digital knowledge repository and made available to target groups.

To the website

Biparcours app

Students from the Theodorianum grammar school conducted interdisciplinary research as part of the „DenkmalAktiv - Kulturerbe macht Schule“ project. With the exit game "Padergeheimnis", they bring the history of the Pader to life in an age-appropriate way in the Biparcours app.

To the website