Gymnasium Paulinum

Gymnasium Paulinum is a Gymnasium (secondary) school in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It was founded in around 797 and is claimed to be the oldest school in Germany.

Early history
Gymnasium Paulinum was established by Ludger the missionary in 797. He had been instructed by Charlemagne in 793 to preach Christianity in north-western Saxony, and subsequently established a monastery in the centre of the former Frankish stronghold of Mimigernaford (also Mimigardeford or Miningarvard), which was later to be known as Münster. He also established a monastic school for future members of the clergy. In 805, when Ludger was appointed Bishop of Münster, the school became a cathedral school. The new "Schola Paulina" was dedicated to St. Paul.

Latest developments
On October 9, 2007, the Gymnasium Paulinum was awarded the title "School of Europe" (Europaschule) as one of the first of 15 schools in the province of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Notable alumni

 * Heinrich Brüning, Chancellor of Germany from 1930 to 1932
 * Bernhard von Galen, prince-bishop of Münster
 * Johann Glandorp, 16th century humanist, theologian, and scholar
 * Leonard Landois, physiologist
 * Hermann Löns, journalist and writer
 * Josef Pieper, philosopher
 * Hans Tietmeyer, economist