In the 1990’s, there was a joke on the Internet about how someone could be from Bielefeld, but the phrase was mistake for something else. The Bielefeld Conspiracy was born and it had three questions:
- Have you ever been to Bielefeld?
- Do you know anyone that has been to Bielefeld?
- Do you know anyone from Bielefeld?
Bielefeld University main building 
Bielefeld University knoll
If the answer to all three questions are ‘no’, then you really can’t be sure if it exists or not. The phrase: “Ich gibt es gar nicht” can mean “I do not believe it” (I don’t believe you are from Bielefeld) or “it does not exist” (I don’t believe Bielefeld exists). McDonalds has even capitalised on this joke in their German advertising campaign on low prices reading: “Bielefeld gibt’s gar nicht” (Bielefeld does not believe it).
There were even theories that Bielefeld only existed for military purposes with the local University housing a UFO. Of course, this opportunity to investigate a conspiracy theory was too good to pass up so I visited for a morning to confirm that there are no UFOs and no secret military bases there. There is, however, a nice castle on Sparrenburg with commanding views of the city.
Sparrenburg castle 
Watchtower 
View from Sparrenburg
The local light rail will get you to most places in the city including the Kunsthalle with an extensive collection of art, the local Rathaus, churches, and small bakeries with yummy pastries.
City Theatre 
Altes Rathaus 
Nikolaikirche 
Old Market 
Street 
Kunsthalle
