Luebeck is a lively, very walkable city on the water famous for its beautiful medieval architecture and delicious marzipan.
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Lübeck, a Germany city, part of the Hamburg Metropolitan Region, on the mouth of the River Trave, has one of the most famous landmarks in Northern Europe. A Medieval spirit still dominates the cityscape and the Holsten Gate is of the most popular motifs for photos on the postcards of Northern Europe. You can find it on cakes, stamps, and even coins. Its twin towers are impressive but the green spaces in front of the gate are a great place to relax in the company of two big iron lions that guard the town.
Lübeck was always special because of its position on the river. That made an ideal place for trade in that part of the world and as such it seen all kinds of influences. UNESCO recognized this and the Old Town, situated on an island, is today a World Heritage Site of Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classicist buildings, narrow streets and passages and gabled merchants' houses. Lübeck has many beautiful churches but St. Mary's Church is special. It has the world's tallest brick vault which goes hand in hand with nearby MuK music and congress hall that couldn't be more modern. It has the world’s largest organ with 10,000 organ pipes while its lookout tower offers a wide view over Lübeck.
A world of the romantic historical residential alleys runs like a labyrinth through the rear courtyards of nearly the Old Town. There used to be 180 inhabited alleys and courtyards, today there are around 80 left and most of them are open to the public, but some are locked at night. It is the perfect place to stroll around. Near St Jacob's church there is the Seafarer's Guild building. A home for sailors and captains for 500 years, today it welcomes guests with labskaus: potato with salted meat, pickled herring, fried egg and beetroot. Very worth trying!
While at food, you may sense a wonderful scent while strolling Lübeck's streets. Roasted almonds and sugar make marzipan, the city's most delicious export. There is even saying "Marzipan is the answer. Who cares what the question is?" A little is know how and when marzipan came to the city but the story goes that marzipan was invented in Lübeck in 1407. There was a danger of famine and the Senate have tasked the bakers with making bread from almonds. And now we have it: Marci-panis (almond bread). It's worth to say that since days long gone marzipan was considered a medicine, from the old Persia to Germany. Niederegger is widely regarded as one of the best marzipans from Germany.
The salt reservoirs next to the Holsten Gate were built between 1579 and 1745. Those warehouses were being used for salt export from Lübeck to Scandinavia whihc made Lübeck rich. The trade went the other way too: the salt was used to preserve fish, enabling the herring trade with the inland. That northern connection is reflected in the city port which motto was Concordia domi foris pax (harmony inside, peace outside). Of course, where's history, there's a museum. Museum Harbour presents traditional sailing ships and Norden, the Nordic ship from 1870 is the most interesting. And they all are in perfect condition!
Lübeck is the city of the seven spires and five Gothic brick churches. The seven spires look like the spikes of a crown, hence the nickname for the city the Queen of the Hanseatic League. And churches are full of life: services, music, guided tours, concerts, readings, discussions, performances... That all takes place in them. They are all worth to be mentioned, but Lübeck Cathedral is one of the oldest monuments is the episcopal seat for centuries. It's interesting that people were also happy with a church with only one tower, Saint Gille, in a honor of the patron of the working people: hunters, shepherds, horse traders, shipwrecked, archers, beggars, lepers and breastfeeding mothers.
Lübeck likes theatres. Lübeck's Stadtheater opened in 1908 in an Art Nouveau building and it is considered to be the main point if you like to taste the local scene. But there are a lot of large and small stages, and different theatres offer something for everyone. From more formal to alternative theaters, the chance is you will find something for you. If you don't like the show, remember what Oscar Wilde said: "The play was a great success, but the audience was a disaster." Jokes aside, the strength of culture in Lübeck is easily visible from this: Thomas Mann and Günter Grass were worthy of the Nobel Prize. There's also Willy Brandt, but he dealt with another form of culture.
Since there, it would be a shame not to visit An der Obertrave, a 700 meters long promenade along the River Trave. That is a very serene place of cobbled streets but, along old beautiful buildings, there you will find bars and restaurants with terraces from where you can enjoy the view. Just a few kilometres away from Lübeck there is Timmendorfer Strand, a place to see and be seen, a rejuvenating resort with sandy beach almost seven kilometers long with upscale boutiques, cafes, restaurants, hotels and cool events. While you are there, visit SEA LIFE Timmendorfer Strand, an aquarium, and enjoy Germany’s Baltic Coast. ■
