Showing 1-15 of 15 results
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Buddenbrookhaus
There must be something in the water in Lübeck, for the city has connections to two Nobel Prize-winning authors (as well as Nobel Peace Prize-winning former chancellor Willy Brandt). The winner of the 1929 Nobel Prize for Literature, Thomas Mann, was born in Lübeck in 1875 and his family's former home is now the Buddenbrookhaus.
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Dom
The Dom was founded in 1173 by Heinrich der Löwe when he took over Lübeck. Hence it's the oldest church in town. Locals like to joke that if you approach the Dom from the northeast, you have to go through Hölle (hell) and F egefeuer (purgatory) - the actual names of streets - to see Paradies, the lavish vestibule to the Dom. Otherwise, the building is quite spartan.
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Füchtingshof
In the Middle Ages, Lübeck was home to numerous craftspeople and artisans. Their influx soon meant demand for housing outgrew the available space, so tiny single-storey homes were built in courtyards behind existing rows of houses. These were then made accessible via little walkways from the street. Nowadays, almost 90 such Gänge (walkways) and Höfe (courtyards) still exist, among them charitable housing estates built for the poor, the so-called Stiftsgänge and Stiftshöfe .
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Glandorps Gang
In the Middle Ages, Lübeck was home to numerous craftspeople and artisans. Their influx soon meant demand for housing outgrew the available space, so tiny single-storey homes were built in courtyards behind existing rows of houses. These were then made accessible via little walkways from the street. Nowadays, almost 90 such Gänge (walkways) and Höfe (courtyards) still exist, among them charitable housing estates built for the poor, the so-called Stiftsgänge and Stiftshöfe .
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Günter Grass-Haus
While born in Danzig (now Gdansk), Günter Grass had been living just outside Lübeck for 13 years when he collected his Nobel Prize in 1999. But Germany's postwar literary colossus - the author of, among many other works, 1959's searing Die Blechtrommel (The Tin Drum) - initially trained as an artist, and has always continued to draw and sculpt. So the Günter Grass-Haus is one the most aesthetically inviting literary museums you'll ever see.
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Holstentor City Gate & City Museum
Lübeck's small Holstentor city gate really is quite stunning. It captivated Andy Warhol (his print of it is in the St Annen Museum) and it's a sight where people sit and stare. Its twin, pointy-roofed circular towers, tilting together across a stepped gable, have made it a true German icon, which has graced postcards, paintings, posters, marzipan souvenirs and even the old DM50 note, as you'll discover in the engaging City History Museum inside.
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Katharinenkirche
Art lovers will enjoy the towerless Katharinenkirche. It houses sculptures by Ernst Barlach and Gerhard Marcks, plus The Resurrection of Lazarus by Tintoretto.
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Malerwinkel
If you head south along An der Obertrave, you pass the idyllic Malerwinkel, where people sit on garden benches among blooming flowers in summer, looking out at the houses and white picket fences across the water. This is one of Lübeck's most lovely corners, and shouldn't be missed.
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Marienkirche
Each of Lübeck's churches offers something different. Near the Markt rise the 125m twin spires of Germany's third-largest church, the Marienkirche. It's most famous for its shattered bells, which have been left where they fell after a WWII bombing raid, as a peace memorial. Turn left upon entering the church and go to the end of the aisle. There's also a little devil sculpture outside, with an amusing folk tale (in German and English).
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Museum für Puppentheater
If you're travelling with children - or have a particular interest in marionettes - don't miss the Museum für Puppentheater. It's a private collection of some 1200 puppets, props, posters and more, from Europe, Asia and Africa.
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Petrikirche
If you want panoramic views over the city, head for the Petrikirche, which has a tower lift to the 7th floor.
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Rathaus
Sometimes described as a 'fairy tale in stone', Lübeck's 13th- to 15th-century Rathaus is regarded as one of the most beautiful in Germany. Unfortunately, it's become a little grubby and its impact is somewhat limited by new buildings around the marketplace, which block previously open views. Inside, a highlight is the Audienzsaal (Audience Hall), a light-flooded hall decked out in festive rococo.
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Salzspeicher
Just behind the Holstentor (to the east) stand six gabled brick buildings. These are the Salzspeicher, once used to store salt transported from Lüneburg, which was then bartered for furs from Scandinavia and used to preserve the herrings that formed a substantial chunk of Lübeck's Hanseatic trade.
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St Annen Museum
The St Annen Museum houses a browsable mish-mash of ecclesiastical art (including Hans Memling's 1491 Passion Altar) historical knick-knacks, and contemporary art in its modern Kunsthalle wing. The latter houses the Andy Warhol print of Lübeck's Holstentor.
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Trave River
Just behind the Salzspeicher lies the Trave River, which forms a moat around the old town; and if you arrive between April and September one of the first things to do is to take a boat tour. Sure, you start off viewing an industrial harbour, but the trips soon start passing beautiful leafy surrounds. Boats are scheduled to leave every half-hour, although many wait until they're half-full.
Showing 1-15 of 15 results
