According to clothingexpress, Lübeck is a port on the Baltic Sea, dating back to 1143, when a new city grew up on the site of a burned-out Slavic settlement. Its geographical position is very advantageous – it is the intersection of important land and water routes, thanks to which the city grew and developed rapidly in the Middle Ages. Lübeck is known as the center of the Hansa trade union, which united most of Europe. The main attractions of this small town are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The lives of two Nobel laureates in literature are connected with Lübeck: Thomas Mann was born and lived here for a long time, and Günther Grass also died.
How to get there
- by plane
Lübeck has its own small airport, but it is easier to find tickets for a flight to the larger Hamburg airport. From there, you can pre-order a transfer to Lübeck (from 140 EUR) or buy a bus ticket (1.5 hours on the way). In addition, you can also get there by train, changing at the railway station in Hamburg.
- by train
Lübeck is connected by rail to many major cities in Germany, for example, from Berlin you can get there in 3 hours, from Dresden in 6 hours, from Munich in 7 hours.
- on a boat
Ships from Finland, Latvia, Sweden and Russia (St. Petersburg) arrive at the port of Lübeck.
- by bus
International buses run from Kaliningrad to Germany. They do not reach Lübeck itself, but you can drive to Hannover, and then transfer to the train to Lübeck. The schedule of international buses and the cost of tickets can be found at the office. Kaliningrad website.
Lübeck Hotels
There are several dozens of hotels in the city: modern and located in old buildings, private and municipal. The cost of a day’s stay varies from 45 EUR (hostels) to 50-120 EUR (3-4 * hotels).
Entertainment and attractions of Lübeck
The old part of the city, Altstadt, spreads out on a hill framed by the Trave and Wakenitz rivers. This area was badly damaged during the Second World War, but it was restored to the last detail, and now it looks like it was seen by the inhabitants during the Middle Ages.
The oldest sights are the Cathedral and the Church of St. Mary. Both buildings were built in the 13th-14th centuries in the Romanesque-Gothic style. In the 15th century, the cathedral was decorated with wooden carvings of its patrons, and its 17-meter cross is clearly visible from almost anywhere in the city. The city hall building, built in the 13th century, was thoroughly rebuilt several times, and now you can see only the main features of the original plan.
The city hall of Lübeck still performs its functions and is the oldest active town hall in Germany.
Not far from the Church of St. Mary there is an amazing attraction that no lover of German literature can pass by indifferently – the so-called Buddenbrook House. In fact, this is the family nest of the writers Thomas and Heinrich Mann, which has now become a museum. And for readers, this is the abode of the Buddenbrook family, the life of several generations of which was brilliantly depicted in his book The Buddenbrook Family by Nobel laureate Thomas Mann.
You can see the panorama of the Old Town from the Petrikirche observation deck. It makes an unforgettable impression: the city is surrounded by water on all sides, and all its houses are built of burnt bricks (this was done in order to minimize damage from fires, of which there were many in the city at first), which creates a surprisingly coherent picture. The old city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and is under the protection of this organization.
Salt warehouses
In the Middle Ages, one of the most important commodities was salt, it was brought to Lübeck from Lüneburg to be transported further to Scandinavia. One of the most beautiful and curious buildings of Lübeck are salt warehouses. All six buildings were built in the Renaissance style and, without exaggeration, became the decoration of the city.
You can enter the Old City through one of the four gates. Once upon a time, in the 15th century, they were built in order to demonstrate the wealth and power of Lübeck, and now they have become its attraction. One of the gates, Holstentort, is depicted on the coat of arms of the city and is its invariable symbol.
They wanted to demolish this priceless historical and architectural monument in 1863, and only a one-vote majority led to the decision not to demolish, but to reconstruct the gate. Since then, their arch has inscribed “Unity within and peace without”, such is the motto of the city.
Museums Lübeck
The city is proud of its peculiar museums, dedicated to, for example, the history of marzipan or theatrical puppets – with the largest collection of puppets in the world. Of course, there are more academic museums in Lübeck: the Museum of Art and Cultural History, as well as the Museum of St. Anne.
Christmas in Lübeck
Christmas in Germany is a separate topic. Christmas markets, the aroma of pine needles, mulled wine and gingerbread, music charge with a festive mood all residents and guests of the city. In Lübeck, the Christmas market takes place on the Town Hall Square and is considered one of the best in Germany (and the townspeople are very proud of it). Many tourists plan their trips to this city by December in order not only to admire the sights, but also to feel the atmosphere of Christmas that envelops the whole city.
