Bielefeld is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located on both the western and eastern slopes of the Teutoburg Forest. The name Bielefeld is derived from the old name bileveld, which means "hilly field". The city separates the two main ridges of the Northern and Southern Teutoburg Forest from each other. The centre of Bielefeld is situated on the eastern side of the Teutoburg Forest, but the modern city incorporates boroughs on the opposite side and on the hilltops.

Attractions

The castle Sparrenburg is the best known landmark and the emblem of Bielefeld. It was built between 1240–1250 by Count Ludwig von Ravensberg. The 37 m (121 ft) high tower and the catacombs of the castle are open to the public.
The Old city Hall (Altes Rathaus) was built in 1904 and is today the seat of the mayor of the city. On its facade can be found various architectural styles, including elements of the Gothic style and of the Renaissance. Most of the city's current administration operates from the neighboring New city Hall (Neues Rathaus).
The city Theater (Stadttheater) is part of the same constructional unit as the Old city Hall, and was also built in 1904. It has a notable Jugendstil facade. It is the biggest theater in the city.
The Altstädter Nicolaikirche is the oldest city church of Bielefeld. It is a Gothic hall church with a height of 81.5 m (267 ft) which has existed in its current form since 1340. The church was founded in 1236 by the Bishop of Paderborn, and was enlarged at the beginning of the 14th century. Three times a day, a carillon can be heard. The most valuable treasure of this church is a carved altar from Antwerp, decorated with 250 carved figures. The building includes a small museum, showing the history of the church up to World War II.
The city's second biggest church is the Neustädter Marienkirche, an early Gothic hall church dating from 1293. It has a height of 78 m (256 ft) and a length of 52 m (161 ft). In terms of art history, this building is considered the most precious in the city. It was the starting point of the Protestant Reformation in Bielefeld in 1553. The church has a valuable wing-altar with 13 pictures, known as the Marienaltar. The original baroque spires were destroyed in World War II, and were replaced by two Gothic spires with an unusual spiky shape.