Westphalia, Geographic region in northwestern Germany.
Westphalia is a historical region in northwestern Germany that stretches between the Rhine and Weser rivers, marked by flat lands in the north and rolling hills in the south. This territory forms part of present-day North Rhine-Westphalia and touches several German federal states.
In 1648, the Peace of Westphalia brought international attention when treaties were signed in Münster and Osnabrück to end the Thirty Years' War. The territory was formerly part of the Duchy of Saxony and evolved over centuries into a distinct historical entity.
The Westphalian dialect of Low German remains a distinct linguistic characteristic of the region, extending beyond current administrative borders into neighboring territories.
The region is easily explored by car or train, with larger cities like Münster, Dortmund and Bielefeld serving as starting points. The south offers walking routes through hilly countryside, while the north provides flat cycling paths.
The white horse on the coat of arms comes from the medieval Duchy of Saxony and still symbolizes regional identity today. The same motif once served as the emblem of Saxon dukes before being adopted by the region.
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