Introducing Lübeck
Oh, how the mighty are fallen. But Lübeck doesn’t look like she cares. The centre of the powerful Hanseatic League, or ‘Queen of the Hanse’, is now merely a provincial city, albeit with a picture-book appearance.
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Yet what a fairy tale it seems. The two pointed cylindrical towers of the landmark Holstentor (gate) lean together across the stepped gable that joins them, behind which the streets are lined with medieval merchants’ homes and spired churches forming Lübeck’s so-called ‘crown’. It’s no surprise to learn that this 12th-century gem, including more than 1000 historical buildings, has been on Unesco’s World Heritage List since 1987. It looks so good you could eat it – especially the red-foil-wrapped displays of its famous marzipan, which you actually can.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
