Lübeck

Three of Lübeck's landmarks, the Marienkirche (1250-1330), the Holstentor (built in 1477) and the Petrikirche, can be seen above. The small buildings on the right were used to store salt in the Middle Ages, which was imported from the southern German states and used to preserve fish.

Lübeck is a port town at the Baltic Sea, northeast of Hamburg. Today its harbor still plays a role in the transportation of goods between Central Europe and Scandinavia, but with bridges connecting Denmark and Sweden, this role will become smaller.

The medieval buildings forming the inner city are from a time when Lübeck was the most powerful city in the Baltic area and controlled the trade between Scandinavia and the rest of Europe. Back then it was the head of the Hanseatic League. This alliance was formed by several cities from the northern German states to control the trade on the Baltic Sea and defend it against pirates.

Luckily many of these buildings have survived and wandering through Lübeck's narrow streets one can still imagine how life has been in former times. (Reading Thomas Mann's Buddenbroks might help.)

Left: My favorite church, the Marienkirche, on a winter evening shortly before christmas. Right: A closer look at the belltower of the Petrikirche, which has an observatory right below the roof (with a nice view of the Holstentor). The church is not used for religious service, but hosts art exhibitions from time to time. For an interesting example, look at this Red Orb.

For more information on Lübeck, visit's its official home page.