The iron cages are original from the 16th century and have survived intact for nearly 500 years.
The church tower serves as a base for one of the last traditional night watchmen in Germany.
The cages were intended to serve as a deterrent to future political or religious uprisings against the Prince-Bishop.
The current tower spire was added during a renovation in the 1890s to replace a collapsing predecessor.
The church is located at the northern end of the Prinzipalmarkt, the city's historical merchant thoroughfare.
St. Lamberti is a hall church in Münster famous for the three iron cages hanging from its tower. These cages were installed in 1536 to display the corpses of the leaders of the Anabaptist Rebellion. The original corpses were removed in 1536, but the cages remain as a permanent, controversial monument to the uprising. The church itself was constructed between 1375 and 1525 in the Westphalian Gothic style. Its spire, designed by Bernhard Hertel in the late 19th century, replaced an older structure and reaches 90.5 meters in height. A night watchman maintains the historical tradition of blowing a horn from the tower to signal the hour, a practice documented back to the 14th century. The interior contains the remains of the 'Anabaptist Cages' original iron work and notable religious artifacts from the late medieval period. It serves as a parish church for the Roman Catholic community in the heart of the city.
The street corner at the intersection of Prinzipalmarkt and Lambertikirchplatz looking upward toward the tower.
Look for the night watchman's station signs near the entrance for information on the traditional horn-blowing schedule.
Bring binoculars to see the details of the iron cages on the tower clearly from the ground.
Combine your visit with a walk along the adjacent Prinzipalmarkt to see the city's historical gabled houses.
Do not assume the cages are decorative art; they are authentic historical instruments of corporal punishment.
Maintain a quiet volume as it is an active place of worship; remove hats and avoid flash photography during services.
