I am a 23 year old student, studying at the University of Manchester. I am from Durham in the North ...
I am a 23 year old student, studying at the University of Manchester. I am from Durham in the North East and enjoy travelling!
Member since:23.01.2004
Reviews:26
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Lübeck is one of the three North German cities which were famed for their independence from the rest of Germany. They were part of the Hansa League, which grew rich from the North Sea trade. To this day they still retain the title Hansastadt before their names. The other two are Hamburg and Bremen, but I find Lübeck to be the most interesting of all.
Like all major German cities Lübeck was extensively bombed during WWII and most of it's beautiful buildings were destroyed. Six of it's seven famous churches were totally destroyed and only now through careful restoration is Lübeck regaining the name 'City of the Seven Towers'. Most of the Old Town has been lovingly restored and is worthy of the UNESCO title.
Lübeck's best feature is the splendid Gothic brick architecture which can be seen on most of the buildings in the Old Town. Your tour should start with the Holstentor, which was built in the 15th Century and is the symbol of the city it's also a splendid entrance to the city. This along with the Marienkirche and the Cathedral are the best sights of Lübeck.
The Marienkirche, which is open from 9-5 daily, dates from the 14th Century and boasts the highest brick ceiling in the world. It also contains some spectacular art treasures such as a 10m bronze Holy Sacrament and in a very good memeorial to the past, the fragemtns of the bells destroyed in a 1942 bombing raid have been left embedded in the floor where they fell. The Cathedral which was completed in 1341, open 10-5 daily, is another Gothic brick masterpiece. It's most treasured possession and tourist attraction is the Triumphal Cross, which at 17m high and sculpted from a whole oak tree is truly an impressive sight.
Other highlights of Lübeck include the Buddenbrook House, which is a museum dedicated to Thomas and Heinrich Mann, who lived much of their life in Lübeck before their emigration in 1933. Thomas Mann based his Nobel Prize winning book 'The Buddenbrooks' in this very house. Mengstrasse is a picturesque street full of Gothic brick buildings which have spectacular facades and give some impression of the wealth of Lübeck in the 18th and 19th centuries.
A fun visit for children is the Theatre Museum, which holds one of the worlds largest collections of puppets and frequently puts on shows for younger visitors. For those with a passion for the Gothic, then must visits are the Town Hall and Holy Ghost Hospital both resplendent with spiky turrets and excellently decorated interiors.
Breite Strasse is the place to visit if you are hungry, here you can buy a Lübeck favourite, marzipan. The Niederegger patisserie which was established in 1806 and still serves excellent marzipan today is the best bet for presents or simply something sweet to eat. Also on this street is the architecturally impressive Haus der Schiffergesellschaft which also houses the cities best restaurant, meals are between 15-25 euros.
Lübeck is a pleasant place to spend a few days and is not as crowded as Hamburg or Bremen, personally I think the city looks far nicer and has more to offer, especially in the summer. There are plenty of beaches about a 20 minute drive from Lübeck which are safe and clean and great when the sun is shining. It is a great place to admire wonderful architecture, sample lovely food and relax. The one downside is that because it is situated on the North German Coast then it is subject to it's fair share of bad weather.
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Apr 7th, 2004
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