Narrow alleyways, old merchant houses, the world-famous Holsten Gate and the seven spires of the Old Town: there are many good reasons to travel to Lübeck. The Hanseatic city is an attractive destination for city breaks and for lovers of culture, history and maritime lifestyle. The five mighty churches in the Old Town, the unique museums, the marzipan salon at the Café Niederegger, the museum harbour and the historic Town Hall - these are just a few of the places worth to visit.
Lübeck, Queen of the Hanseatic League
History to fall in love with
Lübeck is the city which, more than any other, exemplifies the
power and historic role of the Hanseatic League. Founded in 1143 by
Henry the Lion on a small island of the Baltic coast, Lübeck was
the former capital and Queen City of the Hanseatic League from 1230
to 1535. As such it was one of the principal cities of this league
of merchant cities which monopolized the trade of the Baltic and
the North Sea, just as Venice and Genoa exerted their control over
the Mediterranean. The plan of Lübeck, with its blade-like outline
determined by two parallel traffic routes running along the crest
of the island, dates to the beginnings of the site and testifies to
the expansion of the commercial centre of Northern Europe.
Surrounded by water the Old Town is one of the most precious gems
of the Northern European brickstone architecture. For the first
time an entire Old Town in Northern Europe was included in the list
of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1987.
Since medieval times the seven church spires shape the character of
this historic island. The most important buildings are listed as
World Heritage: the Town Hall, the convent "Burgkloster", a
completely preserved quarter of the late 13th century (Koberg) with
St. Jacob's church, the Hospital of the Holy Spirit and all the
buildings between "Glockengießerstraße" and "Aegidiensstraße", a
quarter with patrician houses of the 15th and 16th century between
St. Peter's church and Lübeck's Cathedral, the impressive Holsten
Gate and the salt warehouses on the left side of the Trave river.
Lübeck's Old Town is the first Old Town in Germany ever officially
declared a Cultural World Heritage Site. Also the archaeological
underground of the Old Town with an amount of nearly three million
findings is part of it.
Art andculture
The City of Lübeck is proud of its three Nobel Prize Laureates:
Thomas Mann, Willy Brandt and Günter Grass. The Museum of
Literature Buddenbrook-House at Mengstraße 4 is a centre of
attraction for Mann experts and devotees from all over the world.
Here, the works of Heinrich Mann and the author Erich Mühsam are
being honoured as well. The Günter Grass-House, where the author
has his writing studio, is an exhibition and research facility,
just like the Willy-Brandt-House, which presents the exhibition
“Willy Brandt – A political life in the 20th century” – an
entertaining and colourful description of the life and work of the
former Federal Chancellor, who was born in Lübeck in 1913.
Real gems can also be found among the many museums in
Lübeck’shistoric Old Town: St. Anne’s museum and the Art Hall St.
Anne, the museum Behnhaus/Drägerhaus, the Hospital of the Holy
Spirit dating back to 1280 and the Museum of Theatre Puppets are
worth a visit. Organ concerts in the five Gothic-style churches,
music from classic to pop presented at the Music and Congress Hall,
master concerts at the Academy of Music, the Brahms festival and
the international Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival are splendid
cultural enjoyments.
The Nordic Film Days Lübeck has one of the longest traditions of
any film festival worldwide. It is the only festival in Germany
which is entirely devoted to the presentation of films from the
North and Northeast of Europe.And finally is Lübeck known as
“Christmas City of the North”, featuring the famous Old Town
Christmas markets.
Hanse meets Humboldt – the start of an experiment
Lübeck is „City of Science 2012“. The programme follows the concept „Hanse meets Humboldt“, which focusses on the conception of a knowledge-based city development. One of the main aims is the implementation of scientific playgrounds all over the city. Several experimentation sites present medical technology and research activities, unfolded at Lübeck’s universities. They explain,why the research findings are of interest to companies and finally, how the people benefit from theses scientific activities. Bringing the people and scientists together is what all the activities are about in 2012: www.hanse-trifft-humboldt.de.
European HansemuseumLübeck: Experience the Hansa
Presently, the European Hansemuseum is under construction. The opening is scheduled for autumn 2013. On thesiteofthe Castle Monastery (Burgkloster) this unique museum with an exhibitionareaof 4.700 sq. m. will be a new centre of research and entertainment. Visitors will be able to study the history of the former trading force „Hansa“ and explore and experience the interaction between the merchants and the clergy: www.hansemuseum.eu.
Travemünde – stage to the sea
Big ships, fine sandy beaches and the pure feeling of the Baltic Sea – that’s Travemünde – just a stone’s throw from Lübeck.Visitors stroll around the beautiful seaside resort, from the old harbour to the north mole – past the huge ferries and smart cruise vessels from all over the world. They enjoy a coffee on the Vorderreihe (sea front), the promenade and Travemünde’s most beautiful shopping mall, and try their luck in Travemünde‘sfamous casino. In the breezy heights of the old lighthouse they get a panorama view of the Trave estuary. A trip on atraditional ship offers a real adventure! www.travemuende.tourism.de
Contact:
Lübeck und Travemünde Marketing GmbH
Tourist Office(Welcome Center)
Holstentorplatz 1
D-23552 Lübeck
www.luebeck-tourism.de
info@luebeck-tourismus.de
Service-Hotline +49 (0)451-88 99 700
Fax 0451-4091-992
Videos: www.luebeck-travemuende.tv
