Hanseatic city of Lübeck. unesco world heritage

Lubeck - Lubeck

In this article you will learn:

The Queen of the Hansa - this is how the city of Lübeck is called by its inhabitants. And this is not surprising, because at one time this North German city played a crucial role in the Hanseatic League. It is still the largest port in Germany, located on the Baltic coast. Lübeck is located in the Schleswig-Holstein region near the Trave River. His official name– Hansestadt Lubeck, which means the Hanseatic city of Lubeck.

Fragments of history

Initially, the future urban area was inhabited by Slavic tribes, who first founded their settlement here at the end of the 1st millennium AD. It was located at the confluence of the Trave River with Schwartau and was called Lubice. The favorable location allowed the rapid development of trade and handicrafts. But the struggle between Christians and pagans led this settlement to death in 1138.

The Germanic tribes moving here from the southern regions, 5 years later, in 1143 founded a new city, taking for it the old name, slightly changed to the Germanic style - Lübeck. Count Adolf II of Schauenburg is considered its initiator. The new ruler continued the traditions of the disappeared settlement, taking trade as the basis for its development.

But after a decade and a half, Lübeck was again completely destroyed, this time by the army of Henry the Lion. Nevertheless, through his own efforts, the city began to revive again, and from that moment on, Lübeck only increased its influence. In recognition of the merits of Henry the Lion, a monument was erected to him. This is not surprising, because in a relatively short period of time Lübeck began to play a very significant role in a very vast region.

The era of the Hanseatic League

The city developed. In addition to building many public buildings were erected and places of worship. So, in a short time, several churches significant for the city and the Cathedral of Lübeck were laid. Under Henry the Lion, the first legal foundations for the existence of the city appeared, formed in the so-called Lübeck Law, which arose as a response to granting him significant powers in self-government.

For some time (25 years) Lübeck from German jurisdiction passes under the rule of Denmark, but in 1226 Emperor Frederick II returned it to Germany, while granting the status of a free city. At this time, the Germans began the colonization of the Baltic coast, which by the XIV century turned Lübeck into the most influential city and, in fact, the economic center of the Hanseatic League.

Lübeck maintained his status as a leader for several centuries, but with the collapse of the Hanseatic League and the defeat in the civil war that broke out in Denmark in 1534-1536, his influence decreased significantly. However, until now the city is a major port, handling millions of tons of cargo annually.

Famous people of the city

IN different years Many eminent personalities lived in Lübeck. Among the most famous is the Nobel Prize winner, writer, artist and sculptor Günther Grass. The house in which he lived has now been turned into a museum called the Günther Grass Center, where visitors are invited to familiarize themselves with some of the works of this famous man.

Lubick-born prominent 20th-century politician Willy Brandt, who served as Federal Chancellor for 5 years, received the Nobel Peace Prize. The famous 20th-century philosopher Hans Blumenberg was also born here., who became the founder of metaphorology and the author of works devoted to this direction in linguistics.

Two famous German writers considered their homeland Lübeck: Thomas and Heinrich Mann. The elder brother Heinrich became famous after writing a book about the events of Bartholomew's Night in France, and thanks to the title of the book by younger brother Thomas "Buddenbrooks", the museum dedicated to writers is called the "House of Buddenbrooks". Thomas Mann also won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Sights of Lübeck

Given that Lübeck is a city with a very long history, it has preserved a large number of old houses, churches and other buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. Unfortunately, the events of the Second World War had an extremely negative impact on the safety of these buildings. Due to the bombing of allied aircraft, the historical part of the city was destroyed. In the post-war period, the authorities of Lübeck carried out large-scale restoration work, thanks to which the old part of the city was returned to its former appearance.

Cathedral and other churches of Lübeck

One of oldest buildings Lübeck is the Cathedral, the beginning of the construction of which was laid under the founder of the city, Heinrich the Lion. The Bishop of Lübeck lived and worked in the church. During the war, it was partially destroyed by bombing, but was restored in the post-war years.

Of considerable tourist interest is the Church of St. Mary, the construction of which lasted a century: from 1250 to 1350. To date, this religious building is the third largest in Germany and the most high building old part of Lübeck. Observation platforms are arranged on its towers at a height of 125 m. The church has two ancient 4-ton bells that have called citizens to prayer for several centuries. They cracked during the allied bombing of the historic part of Lübeck.

Another old church, dating back to the earliest period of the formation of Lübeck, bears the name of St. Peter. On one of its towers, at a height of 50 meters, there is an observation area with a magnificent panorama of the city.

city ​​gate

The most remarkable symbol of Lübeck, replicated on numerous souvenirs, is the city gate Holsten (Holstentor). They were erected in 1466-1478 and represent a massive structure, decorated with two symmetrical towers with gabled roofs. Passage to the city and back was made through the arch, over which the Latin inscription has been preserved: "Concordia domi - foris pax".

Market Square

In the center of the old city formed a wonderful medieval architectural ensemble. For elegance and original look, which combines gothic and renaissance, it is called the "frozen fairy tale". The dominant building on the square is the ancient town hall, the construction of which dates back to 1230. The structure is decorated with 5 elegant turrets, on the spiers of which there are flags. The town hall is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For sightseers who come here, a wine cellar and rooms for the “admiral” and “bride” are open in it.

Square and town hall building

The ancient city of Lübeck, which has more than a thousand years of history, was destroyed several times and then reborn from ruins, managed to preserve in its historical part that beauty and tranquility that are characteristic only of small medieval cities. Despite the loss of its leading status after the destruction of the Hanseatic League, Lübeck is still Germany's leading port city.

Lübeck, Germany: the most detailed information about the city of Lübeck, the main attractions with photos and descriptions, location on the map.

City of Lübeck (Germany)

Lübeck is a city in northern Germany on the Trave River in Schleswig-Holstein. This is one of major ports country, the second largest city in the region, located in the Baltic Sea, 58 km southwest of Hamburg. History and unique atmosphere, sights and monuments of brick Gothic architecture, more than 1000 historical buildings - all this is about Lübeck. The appearance of the city seems to remind us of its role as one of the founders of the powerful Hanseatic League, which earned the nickname "Queen of the Hanse". Here you will find ancient streets, medieval merchant houses, old Gothic churches that form the historical core of Lübeck. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1987, today this thriving country town preserves many charming corners and interesting places.

• Geography
• Climate
• Story
• How to get to Lübeck
• Shopping and shopping
• Gastronomy
• Sights of Lübeck
• Video

Lübeck is the only city in northern Germany that has an extensive medieval old center, not inferior to Nuremberg, Regensburg and other cities of the south. Despite the fact that the historical center, like the city itself, was badly damaged by the bombings in World War II, much of the old city has retained the unique features and atmosphere of the Middle Ages, has been carefully reconstructed and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The center of Lübeck has retained much of its original medieval layout. The historic core is made up of seven Gothic churches surrounded by parts of the old city walls with two of the four city gates left intact. One of the main attractions and symbols of Lübeck is the Holstentor gate, which was depicted on the German banknote of 50 marks until 1990.

Geography

Lübeck is located in the North German Plain, at the mouth of the Trave River, which flows into the Baltic Sea. The relief of the city is a slightly hilly plain.

Climate

Lübeck is located in a temperate zone with significant maritime influence. Summers are usually warm and humid, winters are quite mild with slight frosts and frequent thaws. Due to the influence of the Baltic Sea, the humidity here is quite high, during the year there is a lot of precipitation, which is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Story

Lübeck was founded in the 12th century. Due to its fortunate position, it quickly became a free city and achieved considerable wealth and power as the capital of the Hanseatic League from the 14th to the 17th century. The basis of the economy and wealth of Lübeck was the salt trade with other cities on the Baltic coast and their exchange for valuable goods needed and in demand in Germany. Many old warehouses can still be found in the old harbour.

After the vector of maritime trade moved from the Baltic to the Atlantic in the 17th century, the importance of Lübeck as the main trading city of Germany fell and he lost the palm to the northern seaports- Bremen and especially Hamburg.

Milestones in the history of Lübeck:

• 1143 - the foundation of Lübeck on the site of an old Slavic settlement.
• 1226 - Lübeck becomes a free imperial city.
• 1361 - Lübeck becomes the center of the Hanseatic League.
• 1630 - the last meeting of the cities of the Hanseatic League in Lübeck.
• 1815 - Lübeck is part of the German Union in the status of a free Hanseatic city, in 1871 - the German Empire.
• 1933 - Lübeck loses the privileges of a Hanseatic city, and in 1937, autonomy and becomes part of Schleswig-Holstein.

By plane

The nearest international airport is located in Hamburg (HAM). The best way to get from Hamburg airport to Lübeck is by train. Suburban trains line S1 (departure every 10 minutes) will take you from the airport to Hamburg main station, and from there you can take a train to Lübeck. Travel time is just over an hour. direct bus service Hamburg Airport - Lübeck discontinued.

By car

Lübeck is located about 60 km northeast of Hamburg and is easily accessible by car (autobahn A1). With the opening of the new motorway A20 (Baltic Sea Highway) to Rostock, the accessibility of the city has become even better.

By train

In weekdays suburban trains from Hamburg (and back) every 30 minutes (on weekends and holidays every 60 minutes). In addition, railways connect Lübeck with Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Copenhagen and other cities.

On a ferryboat

Lübeck and the city of Travemünde are a major Baltic ferry port. ferry service connects the city with many cities Baltic coast including St. Petersburg.

Shopping and shopping

The main shopping street of Lübeck is HÜXSTRASSE. There are more than 100 shops selling almost everything from souvenirs, food and alcohol to clothing and jewelry. Another famous shopping street is Fleischhauerstrase.

What to buy in Lübeck (souvenirs):

- the famous marzipan;

- Rotspon wine;

– You can buy other souvenirs related to Lübeck in an interesting shop between the market and the Church of St. Mary.

Gastronomy

Old city Lübeck offers the center of a wide variety of establishments that will satisfy most tastes and gastronomic preferences. The following establishments are in great demand: Markgraf, Schabbelhauss, Schiffergesellschaft. If you like beer, then you should go to the Alfstrasse area. Lübeck is known for its high density of cozy cafes and "Kneipen" ("pubs"), so be sure to check out the small old streets. Perhaps there you will find a very interesting and authentic place. If you are a fan of Mediterranean cuisine, then you should visit Miera on Hüxstraße. They also have great wines to try.

Sights of Lübeck

The main attraction of Lübeck is the medieval Altstadt (old town), located on an island surrounded by the Trave River and canals. The main sights of the old city are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Lübeck offers an amazing variety of different architectural styles, and the streets of the city will delight lovers of architecture and history.

The historic center of Lübeck is not a museum under open sky. This is a busy city center. But even so, you can find many beautiful old buildings intertwined with modern facilities and infrastructure, winding medieval streets and quiet old districts. Particularly well preserved is the part of the Altstadt - Koberg, located in the northern part historical center. And be sure to visit the Lübeck Gänge (crossings and courtyards) - small streets with small houses and a charming atmosphere.

The Holstentor (Holstein Gate) is a symbol of Lübeck and the entire Hanseatic League. The grandiose medieval gate of the 15th century, an architectural monument in the brick Gothic style. Included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The gates were part of the city fortifications and served as the main entrance to the city.

The Holstein Gate consists of two towers, north and south, connected by a central span. The towers are built of tiers of red and black bricks, the windows are made in the form of loopholes. Currently, there is a museum here.

One of the features of the old town of Lübeck are seven ancient churches. Magnificent monuments of brick Gothic architecture are one of the symbols of the city. Let's talk about the most interesting of them ...

Church of St. Mary is a monument of Gothic architecture, one of the most significant sacred buildings in Lübeck, built at the beginning of the 14th century. The start date of construction is 1250, the end date is 1350. This grandiose Gothic building, which previously belonged to the Franciscan order, impresses with its size, simplicity and austerity of the interior decoration. Two spiers rise to a height of 125 meters and are visible from almost all parts of the Altstadt.

Lübeck Cathedral - Cathedral, the largest religious building in Lübeck and the entire Baltic coast. The foundation of the cathedral was laid in 1173 by Heinrich the Lion on the southern outskirts of the old town near the mill pond. Lübeck Cathedral is a grandiose three-aisled building, one of oldest monuments brick gothic architecture. It was seriously destroyed in 1942.

Church of St. Jacob's is a Gothic religious building in Lübeck, often referred to as the "Church of the Sailors". This is a three-aisled medieval church built in the first half of the 14th century. Known for its 15th century altar, 14th century wall paintings and 16th century organs. Organs of the Church of St. Jacob are among the best preserved in Northern Germany. Unlike other churches, Lübeck was not damaged during World War II.

Church of St. Petra is an old five-nave Gothic church founded in the first half of the 13th century. One of the most beautiful views of the old city opens from the top of the tower. The first Romanesque church was built between 1227-1250 and rebuilt in the Gothic style in the 15th-16th century. The church was seriously damaged during World War II.

Church of St. Aegidia is the smallest of the five old Gothic churches in Lübeck. It was built in the 14th century. Located in the heart of the old craftsmen's quarter in the eastern part of the old city. Decorated with gothic frescoes, baroque and renaissance elements.

town hall

The Town Hall is the oldest functioning town hall in Germany and one of the most beautiful buildings of its type in Central Europe. One of the architectural dominants of the historic center, which stands out with arcades and small Gothic spiers. Meetings of the Hanseatic League were held here until its collapse.

Other attractions

Hospital of St. Duha is one of the oldest hospital complexes in Central Europe, built with donations from wealthy merchants in the 13th century. The hospital complex is actually a hospital and a small church with frescoes and paintings from the 14th century. Interestingly, the hospital worked here until 1970.

Schiffergesellschaft (literally from German "ship company") is an institution that has become a landmark of Lübeck. Located in an old building from the early 16th century. Offers to plunge into the atmosphere of the Hanseatic League, the times of merchants and brave sailors, as well as taste traditional dishes.

Burgkloster is the most important monastery in Northern Germany and also one of the best preserved medieval monasteries in the country. This is one of the most mysterious and mystical buildings of Lübeck, saturated with the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. One of its visiting cards is the castle gate - a medieval building of the 13th century with a powerful tower, made of black and red bricks. Decorated with late Gothic and early Baroque elements. Also, part of the medieval city walls has been preserved here.

Video

Lübeck. How little is in this word.

When planning your trip to the northern cities of Germany, the choice of many falls on Lübeck. And for good reason, because the entire historical center of Lübeck seems to have not changed since 1143 and is currently under the protection of UNESCO.

However, as soon as you start building routes around this city, you come to the conclusion that the Internet is not generous in issuing useful practical information about what to see in Lübeck. On the one hand, any traveler will appreciate the fact that Lübeck is not the most "tourist" city in Germany. This city is a real godsend for the traveler, Lübeck is literally "stuffed" with sights of the 12th-13th centuries, it is not distinguished by crowded crowds of tourists, queues to museums, churches and shops. Thus, you will have the opportunity to leisurely walk around the medieval German city, enjoying its unique views.

How long to see Lübeck?

In order to see all the sights of Lübeck, half a day is enough! Because Lübeck is so compact that all its attractions are within walking distance and 5 hours is enough for you to carefully look at each attraction and at the same time have lunch and dinner.

Therefore, you can safely include Lübeck in your travel program for the northern cities of Germany - Hamburg, Bremen, Schwerin, Rostock, Lüneburg. Unless, of course, Lübeck wins you over and you don't want to stay here longer. ?

How to get to Lübeck?

Lübeck can be quickly reached by train or bus. For example, from Hamburg to Lübeck, the train journey will take 44 minutes, a round-trip trip for two will cost you about 60 euros. The bus will be cheaper, but a little longer.

History of Lübeck. Birthplace of Marzipan.

First of all, Lübeck is known as the center of the Hanseatic League in Germany. Factors such as independence and a favorable location on the main river trade routes gave the city a strong impetus in its development. From Lübeck, merchant ships filled with salt for sale were sent to other trading cities, and anyone who went to trade from Russian cities, without fail, first of all, ended up in Lubeck. Now this city has lost its important commercial importance, which it used to be, but it has not lost its attractiveness in the eyes of tourists, since Lübeck is known as the birthplace of Marzipan! It is believed that it is in Lübeck that the highest quality marzipan is made according to a medieval secret recipe. In the Middle Ages, marzipan was used instead of Viagra, but today it is a tasty and healthy delicacy. The main marzipan store in Lübeck, which is also a museum and restaurant - Cafe Niederegger, is located in the historical center of the city, it is perhaps impossible not to find it. So to the question of what to bring from Lübeck, you will get the answer - marzipan!

We offer you a short itinerary around Lübeck.

Lübeck is known to be a small German town with about 211,000 inhabitants. Therefore, you can explore the town without even resorting to using a map.

So, having arrived at the Lübeck train station (there are shops inside it where you can buy magnets), you will go out into the street, which will lead you directly to Holstein Gate. By the name of the gate, you can immediately determine which federal state you are now. Schleswig-Holstein. ? Back in 1478, the gate was part of the Lübeck fortification system, but today it is all that remains of this system. The inscription on the gate "Concordia Domi Foris Pax" in translation means: Consent inside, peace outside. There is a museum inside the 5-story gate.

Pass through the gate and then cross the bridge that crosses the river Trave. You will have a view of the majestic salt warehouses. They stored salt mined in Lüneburg, which was then taken for sale. By the way, episodes of the horror film "Nosferatu - a symphony of horrors" were filmed against the backdrop of salt warehouses. ?

Further, turning right you will find yourself on An der Obertrave. Walk a little straight and in front of you will be a puppet theater and a marionette museum. It presents a collection of dolls collected over 300 years from all over the world. Entrance fee: adults 6 euros, children 2 euros.

Then go towards the spire of the church - you can see the Church of St. Peter. Climbing up to its tower (don't worry, there is an elevator) you will have a breathtaking view of the medieval red roofs of Lübeck. Peterskirche has a sad history: on the night of March 28-29, 1942, it was completely destroyed by the British and restored only in 1987.

If, after leaving the church, you go straight and then turn right, you will see the marzipan museum, which is described above, and the old town hall of Lübeck with the square adjacent to it. The town hall building has a year of construction similar to the year the city was founded.

Perpendicular to the town hall is the Church of St. Mary. The church was also destroyed during the war years and in memory of this, the fallen bell lies in the south tower to this day. At the church you can see a bronze figure of an imp, its horns are rubbed to a shine, maybe you should try your luck and make a wish.

If you continue walking straight along the pedestrian street, which has many shops on both sides, you will pass by Günther Grass Museum, Willy Brandt House Museum, Seamen's Church - St. Jacob and the Hospital of the Holy Spirit.

The Lübeck Hospital of the Holy Spirit was built with the money of merchants in 1280 for the treatment and maintenance of the poor and the elderly. Inside the hospital there are many frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries. Near the hospital there is an Indian cafe Taj Mahal. Even if you are not a connoisseur of such tastes, visit this cafe just for ice cream and coffee. Quality at the highest level!

Here, perhaps, are the main attractions of Lübeck, it's time to go to another city. :) Feel free to include Lübeck in your travel program, it will charm you with its northern medieval beauty!

Happy and unforgettable travels!

"Northern Gate of Germany", "Pearl of the Brick Gothic", "Queen of the Hansa", the city of spires, the city of Buddenbrook and the UNESCO World Heritage City, all these honorary titles are held by one city - Lübeck.

I went here to see this wonderful city with my own eyes.

The old town of Lübeck, which has grown on an island of two square kilometers, is visible from afar thanks to the towers of seven city churches. True, its appearance was seriously damaged by British aviation during the Second World War. On the night of March 28-29, 1942, the Royal Air Force of Great Britain bombed the city, in which 234 aircraft participated and dropped more than 400 tons of bombs on the city. As a result of this senseless raid, one fifth of the old city was destroyed, and five of the highest church towers were also destroyed. It is difficult to understand why it was necessary to bomb ancient quarters that had no strategic significance - then many historical and artistic values ​​\u200b\u200bare senselessly lost under bombs and in fires former capital medieval Hansa.

Since 1949, the restoration of the city began, and the result of these works was the inclusion of the historical part of Lübeck into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.

Lubeck inherited its name from the Slavic settlement of Lubetse. The Slavic tribes were expelled from these places, and the Germans who replaced them founded the city, which became the main city of the Hanseatic League. It never had constitutions, leaders, independence holidays, or other attributes of "freedom." But he was the first among the German cities was given the right to mint gold coins.

Lübeck is often referred to as the "Red Brick Gothic Tale". When most of the cities of Europe were rebuilt from limestone, burnt red brick was used as a building material. The inhabitants of Lübeck, pragmatic and restrained people, demonstrated their wealth by erecting majestic churches in the Gothic style and the building of the City Hall, ready to compete in beauty with its churches, with their own money.
Lübeck's brick Gothic style is full of turrets and copper spiers rising above the city. These buildings with their silhouettes created the image of the city.

The main road leading from the station to the Old Town of Lübeck goes through the first a stone bridge built in the early 1770s and the grand Helsinger Gate. The bridge is decorated with numerous sculptures created by Diedrich Jurgen Boy (however, now copies are located here, and the originals have been sent to the museum). And the first thing that catches your eye, having ascended the bridge, is a statue of a young man in a hat and boots, impolitely turning his bare booty towards you.

This is the god of trade Mercury, who has become a favorite of all tourists and photographers. However, the inhabitants of Lübeck did not ignore him - one local poet, Emmanuel Geibel, wrote a rhyme that "that on Olympus Mercury was not taught to wear pants." Translation of the verse - how it happened :-))

"There is a bridge in Lübeck on which stands Mercury.
stripped of all clothing
He's showing off his "Olympic figure"
and turned his back on all foreigners."

But the inhabitants of Lübeck admire a weighty bag, most likely stuffed with money, which Mercury firmly holds in his hands. Although, this was not enough for them - the townspeople forced the naked god to drag a suitcase of impressive size to the fortress gates.

The book by Thomas Mann describes the story of the main characters' journey from the city of Lübeck to Hamburg, between which there are only 80 kilometers. At the same time, the characters had to go through two customs posts! For this reason, I can assume that Mercury could fall into the hands of corrupt customs officers, hence such appearance, and a bag of money - another bribe at the next customs :-))

imposing fortification with two massive towers, it was once part of the city fortifications. The Holstein Gate or Holstentor Gate was the central link in the walls, towers, earthen ramparts, caponiers and canals encircling the historical core of Lübeck on both banks of the Trave and Wakenitz rivers.

They were built in the period from 1464 to 1478 under the leadership of the Lübeck architect Ginrich Helmstede during the modernization of the fortifications on the side of the Trave River. 30 cannons were placed on the gates, of which, however, not a single shot was fired.

Holstentor, with its walls up to 3.5 meters thick, stand on a 7-meter-high embankment, under which there was a swamp about 6 meters deep. Due to the instability of the soil, already in the process of construction, it sank south tower and the gate leaned to the west. Over the centuries, the soil has sagged further. Today, the lower row of loopholes is partially submerged in the ground by more than half a meter.

Since 1950, the gate building has housed the Museum of the History of Lübeck. The permanent exhibition tells about the life of the Lübeck merchants at the end of the Middle Ages.

On the way to the world-famous gates, you meet an inscription in Latin that reads "CONCORDIA DOMI FORIS PAX", which means "Consent inside - peace outside".

The market square in the center of the Old Town is an outstanding example of medieval architecture. The main thing in the ensemble of impressive size is the town hall - one of the most beautiful in Germany.

The construction of the town hall, one of the most beautiful and imposing town halls of the Hanseatic cities, began in 1230, shortly after Lübeck gained legal freedom. The end of construction was in 1308. After that, over the years and centuries, the town hall was expanded and completed, which explains the cocktail of various architectural styles. The city authorities at all times paid a lot of attention and funds to this prestigious representative object. Not only urban and commercial affairs were conducted here, but also issues of European politics were resolved.

The oldest surviving part of the building is the south wall. The interior facade of a building made of colored bricks and with sharp turrets, facing to the side market square, executed in the late Gothic style around 1350. white ornate building New Town Hall, where the city authorities and the Senate still sit today, was completed at the beginning of the 16th century by Flemish architects. The staircase and the entrance to the building from the side of Broad Street were built in 1887 in the Neo-Gothic style. Unfortunately, during my visit, this street was being renovated, so instead of a photo, I will show a picture of this beautiful place.

Here you can also see a charming balcony.

One interesting detail of the town hall is that the doors leading to the courtroom on the first floor of the building do not have the same entrance height. This is due to the fact that the acquitted in court were released through a high door, and the condemned were taken out through a low door, where they were forced to bow their heads.

Near the Market Square stands an impressive brick church with two towering spiers, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

At the wall of the church of St. Mary, you can see a little imp sitting on a stone beam. While tugging at his beard, he smiles amiably at all and sundry. Undoubtedly, the question arises, "what is the devil doing at the walls of the temple?!" However, everything is understandable - there is one legend on this account.

In the 13th century, Lübeck was badly damaged by a fire that destroyed many city buildings, and then it became necessary to build a new church to replace the burned one. Most of the townspeople gathered to take part in this. When the first stone of the Church of St. Mary was laid, the devil appeared in the crowd of people, who was jokingly whispered that they would be a drinking establishment. The devil liked this idea, for the largest number showers he got from these kinds of establishments. Encouraged by the wonderful prospect, he mingled with the crowd and began to actively help in the construction. With his help, the building of the future temple began to rise higher and higher surprisingly quickly. But one day the devil realized that he had been deceived and, according to what he sees, not a drinking establishment, but a real temple is being built! Filled with rage, he grabbed a huge stone beam and swung to demolish the erected walls, when suddenly one brave boy shouted to him: "Stop the devil, do not destroy what we have already built, and for your needs we will build a tavern in the neighborhood!". This version of the devil arranged and he threw a block at the wall of the temple, where she remained lying to this day. You can still see traces of his claws on it. And opposite the church of St. Virgin Mary soon built a tavern, where they drink and feed excellently to this day.

Here is such a legend, but the bronze sculpture of the devil was created by the Hamburg sculptor Rolf Görler and it appeared at the church in 1999 to the delight of tourists who like to be photographed hugging a friendly-looking little devil.

Another legend is connected with this cathedral - the legend "About the Rose Bush and the Mouse". At the beginning of the 13th century, at the church of St. Mary grew a rose bush, whose stems reached the roof, and the townspeople had a belief that the freedom of Lübeck would last as long as this rose bush blooms. But in 1227, the bush began to dry and the reason for this was a mouse, while away it arranged its mink under this bush and gnawed its roots.Political and economic freedom for Lübeck, as a free city, was not easy at that time. From time to time the city was attacked by Denmark. When the bush completely dried up, a decisive battle with the Danes took place in the vicinity of the city, in which the enemies were defeated and the wars with the Danes stopped there.Thus, it was not the flowering, but the death of the rose bush that brought the long-awaited peace to the city. The city council decided to immortalize the main character - the mouse, by placing it next to the altar of the church "Lord's Supper". And a new rose bush, just in case, was again planted near the wall of the church.

Coberg Square. The most beautiful building on this square is the St. Spirit.

The Hospital of the Holy Spirit in Lübeck was built at the turn of the 13th and 14th centuries and is by far the best and best preserved hospital of the Middle Ages. The hospital was built at the expense of city merchants and was intended for the poor and the elderly who were left without care. The patronage of the hospital was carried out by the Order of the Holy Spirit, hence the name of the hospital. The hospital provided 170 beds. In this capacity, she worked for about 700 years, and passed into the status of a nursing home in 1970. In the Long Hall, attached to the three-aisled church, you can still see 170 wooden cells open at the top, which housed the guests of this charitable institution. The hospital is believed to be the oldest social institution in Europe.

The church of St. Jacob, also located on the square, is called the "seafarer's church". She was especially loved by sailors, of whom there were always enough in Lübeck.

It was built at the very beginning of the 14th century on the site of a Romanesque church destroyed by fire in 1276. She was chronically unlucky with spiers. It is known that in 1375 the spire of the tower suddenly collapsed into the courtyard of the Hospital of the Holy Spirit. For almost three centuries, the church stood without a tower; a new spire appeared in it only in 1657. But bad luck happened to him too: during a thunderstorm in 1901, lightning struck the tower, burning the spire. However, the church turned out to be the only one of the large churches of the historical center of Lübeck, which was practically not damaged during the barbaric bombardment of Lübeck by British aircraft in March 1942.

In the northern bell tower of the church there is a memorial chapel, in which a damaged rescue boat from the four-masted barge Pamir sunk in 1957 is installed. Then 80 of the 86 crew members died.

At the other end of the Old Town rises the second surviving gate of Lübeck after the demolition of the system of city fortifications in 1864 - the Burgtor or Castle Gate. They were rebuilt in 1444 according to the design of the then town planner Nicolas Pekk to replace the previous gates and changed their appearance somewhat in the following centuries. On both sides of the gate, parts of the city wall dating back to 1320 can still be seen.

There is one feature in Lübeck that distinguishes it from other cities - these are its inner residential courtyards.

In the 16th century, Lübeck flourished, local merchants, merchants, and industrialists needed more and more labor. More and more rushed into the city surrounded by water. more people. For their resettlement, new housing was required, since they were forbidden to settle outside the city walls. On the site of the former vegetable gardens, merchants began to build rows of one-story and two-story houses for their workers. Also, Lübeck merchants never skimped on donations: in addition to houses for workers, churches and hospitals, in the 16th-17th centuries several residential quarters appeared in the same area, in which widows from noble circles were allowed to live free of charge.

These houses with spacious long yards-lanes were named in the German manner - gangs (corridors, passages). By the beginning of the 18th century, there were 180 such residential passages, and a third of the urban population, mainly working people, lived in them. Over time, by the middle of the 19th century, these courtyards turned into real slums and became the social bottom of Lübeck.

The bombing of the city by the British in 1942 destroyed most these quarters. The surviving buildings fell into disrepair, and only in the 1970s did the city authorities set about restoring the old quarters.

Now in these museum houses living under the open sky ordinary people. Part of the yards is open for tourists until 6 pm, after which the entrance is only for local residents. They can be understood, I myself would not want to see crowds of tourists in my yard upon returning from work.

Lübeck also has its own delicious feature - marzipan. The history of German marzipan, which is considered to be the birthplace of Lübeck, begins very sadly: there is a legend about the siege of the city and the famine of 1407, when not a single gram of flour was left in the city barns. Then dodgy bakers decided to bake bread from ground almonds and sugar, which at that time were still in sufficient quantities. Thus, marzipan was invented, which subsequently glorified the confectioners of Lübeck.

A separate museum is dedicated to this delicacy in the city - the marzipan museum, opened at the Niederegger confectionery house, which has been specializing in the production of this sweet since 1806. In 1942, during the Allied bombing of Lübeck, the cafe was completely destroyed, and the company's archives were also lost forever. A new reconstructed building appeared on the same site in 1948. This is a museum, and a cafe, and a shop at the same time.
In the museum, you can get acquainted with the technology of making marzipan and look at various crafts made from it. For example, here you can see full-length marzipan sculptures of historical figures.

And in the store you can not only buy various sweet souvenirs, but also drink branded coffee with marzipan cake.

And Lübeck is also famous for the young child prodigy, nicknamed "the baby from Lübeck, born here almost 300 years ago. The kid lived a little over four years (February 6, 1721 - June 27, 1725), but to this day he remains an unsurpassed young talent.

At the age of 10 months, Christian Friedrich began to repeat the words spoken by his parents - the artist and architect Paul Heineken and the owner of the art shop and alchemist Katharina Elisabeth. The child was helped in the knowledge of the world by his nanny, Sophie Hildebrant, whom contemporaries called the "soldier in a skirt" for her sergeant-major manners.

By one year he knew the main content of the first parts of the Bible, by two years he knew the whole Bible, and world history, geography, Latin and French mastered by the age of three. In the fourth year, he began to study the history of the church and religion. The kid seemed to know everything in the world. His fame spread with incredible speed. Therefore, the students of the Lübeck Gymnasium were not too surprised when the boy took a seat in the department to give a lecture.

Figures of literature and art, as if in a race, rushed to perpetuate the glory of the baby from Lübeck during his lifetime. The composer from Hamburg, Georg Philipp Telemann, dedicated several literary works to him. He specially arrived in Lübeck to meet the child prodigy, after which he said: "Truly, if I were a pagan, I would kneel and bow my head before this child!"

King Frederick IV of Denmark heard about this wonderful child. He did not believe it when he was told that a three-year-old boy was fluent in four languages, while the king had little knowledge of his native Danish and had difficulty signing. It was decided to deliver the baby to Copenhagen. Young Heineken read several lectures on history to the king and courtiers, and with references to authoritative sources, for which he was immediately awarded the nickname Mirakulum (translated from Latin as “miracle”).

The kid, who was not distinguished by excellent health, died at the age of four years old with the words: "God Jesus, take my spirit ...". It is believed that the weakness of his health was caused by poor nutrition - from birth, the nurse taught the baby that, as a true Christian, he should not eat animal products.
For two weeks the coffin with Christian Heineken, whose forehead was decorated with a laurel wreath, stood open. The most famous people from the north of Europe visited Lübeck to say goodbye to the young genius.

And finally, some more photos of the city.

Text, photo SPRATO

UNESCO World Heritage Site No. 272

The city inherited its name from the Slavic settlement Lyubech (1143) . He received the rights of the city in 1163. In 1201-1226. belonged to Denmark. From 1226 it had the status of a free imperial city. From Lübeck in the 13th century. German colonization of the Baltic coast began. In the XIV century. Lübeck was called "King of the Hanseatic League", the city was the largest and most influential member of the trading alliance that monopolized the conduct of business on the shores of the Baltic Sea and in most of Europe. In 1375 Emperor Charles IV named Lübeck one of the five "pearls of the empire"; and Venice, Rome, Pisa and Florence were rightfully considered the other four.

In the 15th and 16th centuries Lübeck and the Hanseatic League won a series of victories in conflicts with Denmark and Norway over trade rights. However, they were defeated because they took part in the civil war that broke out in Denmark in 1534-1536. After the defeat, the power of Lübeck decreased significantly.

During the Thirty Years' War (1616-1648) kept neutral. After the Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna 1814-1815. recognized the status of a free city for Lübeck, which remained until the inclusion of the city into the province of Schleswig-Holstein (1937) .

The historical core of the city was seriously damaged during the Second World War, in particular, the five highest church towers were destroyed.

What to see

The ancient city is located in the heart of the modern. It is characterized by many church spiers, including the spire of the city's cathedral. The temple was started in 1173 by order of the Saxon duke Henry the Lion as a cathedral of the Bishop of Lübeck. Partially the building was destroyed during the bombing during the Second World War, but now it has been restored. The construction of the Church of St. Mary took place from 1250 to 1350, and today it is also an imposing landmark of the old city. It is the third largest church in Germany and the tallest building in the old part of Lübeck.

The area is home to many famous museums, as well as almshouses founded by wealthy merchants.

The narrow alleys and streets of the Old Town are interesting for houses in the Gothic style with red brick walls and peaked roofs, as well as Renaissance, Baroque and Classicism. The imposing town hall, which still functions, as well as the Art Nouveau State Theater, the Heiligen-Geist hospital can also be seen in the Old Town. Sometimes you can hear the music of Brahms and Mozart coming from the windows of the College of Music.

The Holsten gate became the symbol of Lübeck (Holstentor, 1466-1478) with two symmetrical pointed towers, erected as part of the city fortifications. Above the arch there is an inscription: "Concordia domi - foris pax" (lat. "Consent at home - the world around").

Not far from the Holsten gate is the Gothic church of St. Peter. (Petrikirche, Schmiedestrasse, XIII-XIV centuries). With her observation deck, from a height of 50 m, you can admire the panorama of the city.

From the Church of St. Peter not far to the Market Square, where a beautiful medieval ensemble has formed in the center of the Old Town. The main thing in it is the impressive size of the town hall (1230-1570) - one of the most beautiful in Germany. It is called "frozen fairy tale". Its appearance combines the features of Gothic and Renaissance. Five graceful turrets with spiers decorated with flags look amazing. We recommend visiting the wine cellar (Ratsweinkeller), look into the "admiral's room" (Admiralszimmer) and "chambers of the bride" (brautgemach) located in the town hall building.

Opposite the town hall rises the Gothic church of the Holy Virgin Mary (Marienkirche, 1350). The chapel of peace makes a special impression. It contains two bells cast in 1508 and 1669. For several centuries, four-ton giants called citizens to prayer and peace every day, until air bombs split them. A very expressive monument of the war!

On two towers (125 m) viewing platforms have been set up.

Lübeck will delight those with a sweet tooth with excellent marzipans. The marsaban recipe was brought from Persia in the Middle Ages: 2/3 of sweet almonds, 1/3 of sugar and aromatic oils are used for making. In the company shop-cafe "Niederegger" (Breitestrasse, 89, opposite the town hall) marzipans have been sold since 1806

On Royal Street (Konigstrasse) Holy Spirit Hospital (Heiligen-Geist-Hospital, 1280). It was built at the expense of Lübeck merchants and is designed to accommodate 170 elderly and poor sick people. This is the best preserved medieval hospital in Germany. It is interesting late Gothic carved altar and frescoes (early 14th century).

From Buddenbrook House (Buddenbrooks House) along Broad Street (breitestrasse) a block and a half to St. Jacob's Church (Jakobikirche, 1334), which was popularly called the church of sailors. Here you can see a rescue boat broken by the waves from the Pamir sailing ship. training ship with cadets sank in 1957 near the Azores.

Opposite the church - Nautical Company House (Haus der Schiffergesellschaft, Breitestrasse, 2), which has been preserved almost unchanged since 1535. The building has a luxurious interior, and the menu includes delicious fish and seafood dishes. Hanseatic captains - "sea wolves" once gathered here. good restaurant with a traditional Lübeck interior, there is also a preserved old burgher house Schabbel (Schabbelhaus, Mengstrasse, 48-50).

From the Church of St. Jacob to the medieval fortress gates (Burgtor, 1444, roof completed 1685) leads Bolshaya Zamkovaya street (Grosse Burgstrasse). Once, the only land road to the city passed through the gate.

The Füchtingshof almshouse is located southeast of St. Jakob's Church. (Fuchtingshof; Glockengiesserstrasse, 25; 1639) built for the widows of merchants and sailors. It is one of the best monuments of the Middle Ages.

From the shelter - 700 m south to the almost completely preserved late-Tic monastery of St. Anna (St.-Annen-Kloster; St.-Annen-Strasse; about 1500).

Romanesque Cathedral (dom) located in the southern part of the Old City. Heinrich the Lion ordered to build it in 1173 on the model of the cathedral in Braunschweig (Braunschweig), but as a result of the restructuring of 1241-1266. it acquired a gothic appearance. The rich interior decoration, including the font, has been preserved. (1455) supported by three kneeling angels (1455) , and a triumphal cross carved from a 17-meter oak trunk (Triumphkreuz, 1477) the work of the Lübeck master Bernt Notke. The cathedral belongs to the Protestant church.

The city of Lübeck is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In Lübeck you can take a tour of pleasure boat along the wonderful harbor - the basis of the prosperity and power of the city. Motor ships depart from the Holsten bridge (Holstenbrücke) in front of the old salt warehouse (Salzspeicher).

Notable natives of Lübeck

The writer brothers Heinrich were born and raised in Lübeck (1871-1950) and Thomas Mann (1875-1955) . The latter was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1928.

Lübeck native Willy Brandt (1913-1992) served as Federal Chancellor from 1969-1974. In 1971 he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to detente between East and West.

Museums in Lübeck

City History Museum (Stadtgeschichtliches Museum)

Since 1950 this museum has been located in the casemates of the Holsten Gate. It exhibits a large model of the city, recreating the appearance of Lübeck in the middle of the 15th century. Open: January - March Tue-Sun 11.00-17.00, April - December Tue-Sun 10.00-18.00.

House Buddenbrooks (Buddenbrooks-Haus)

Here, the interiors familiar to readers from the famous novel by T. Mann "Buddenbrooks" are recreated. Despite serious damage, the original facade of this house was preserved. (1758) , owned by the Mann family in 1841-1891. Mengstrasse, 4. Open: January - March Mon-Sun 11.00-17.00, April - December Mon-Sun 10.00-18.00.

Best time to visit

From May to October.

What to see and try

• Lübeck Cathedral, the construction of which was begun by Henry the Lion in 1173 and completed in 1230 East End was destroyed on Palm Sunday 1942 during an air raid.
• Church of St. Mary - the highest church in the city, built in 1250; it is considered a symbol of power and prosperity.
• The State Theater is an Art Nouveau landmark.
• Walk through the old city, where there are more than 1000 ancient buildings.
• Boat trip along the Trave canal, be sure to see the old city fortresses, mills and walls of the medieval city, and then pass the picturesque "artist's corner" and the Holsten gate.

Lübeck is famous for its marzipans.

Lübeck – central city Hanseatic League located on the coast Baltic Sea in the north Germany. Due to its location, it played the most important role in the development of European trade in the Middle Ages.

The history of the emergence of Lübeck

At the mouth of the river Grass Since ancient times, the inhabitants of the Slavic tribes lived, and they had a settlement that they really liked, and therefore they called it Ljubica. During the spread of Christianity during regular clashes and wars with the pagans, the settlement was depleted and ceased to exist. The Germans, settlers from the southern lands, slowly chose that place and formed a new settlement, which soon became a city. Only the name survived from the old one, though it had to be slightly modernized - not to be called a Slavic name. And so the city was born Lübeck. It happened around XII century.

The development of the city turned out to be rapid, thanks to its favorable location on a navigable river, as well as access to the sea. All this opened up wide opportunities for trading. With all these advantages in mind, XIII century merchants Lübeck organize a trade union, which has become the largest in Europe.

About the Hanseatic Trade Union

Hansa or Hanseatic trade union was an organization very similar to modern large monopoly corporations. Originated in 1241 year as a result of the signing of a trade agreement between two developed cities Germany – Hamburg And Lübeck. In its heyday Hanseatic League included dozens of cities the Baltics And North Sea.

Joining the union gave extended privileges in the conduct of trade, as well as protection from all kinds of robbers and pirates. Not only those who were not included in Hansa, he practically could not trade, and experienced enormous difficulties with this. Therefore, more or less big cities like it or not, but had to sign the conditions put forward and enter into an alliance. Everything is as it is now - if you want to live and make a profit - become part of a huge corporation, or holding.

Lübeck was the core Hanseatic League and its main city. Wealthy merchants and merchants lived in it, who rebuilt it with pleasure, and made interesting place for visiting curious tourists. The most saturated part of the city is an island surrounded by the tenacious embrace of the river Grass. Old city center Lübeck V 1987 year was listed UNESCO world heritage. Let's see what's so interesting there.

Sights of Lübeck

Holstein Gate Holstentor - part of the defensive fortress of the city that has survived to this day, erected in XV century in style "Brick Gothic", which was fundamental to Northern Europe in the Middle Ages. main character and business cardLübeck. At the moment in Holstentore there is a museum that tells about the history of the city and the fortress itself. From time to time, a variety of concerts and other exciting events are held on the square in front of the gate.

Lübeck Cathedral (Lübecker Dom) - built in XIII century in Romanesque style. After a couple of centuries, it was rebuilt in the trendy style of that time - "Brick Gothic", which allowed him to become one of the largest cathedrals of its kind. During World War II seriously damaged, but restored after the war.

St Mary's Church (Lübecker Marienkirche) – main church Lübeck. Construction was carried out in XIII-XIV centuries. already known to us "Brick Gothic". In fact, it was a role model in the construction of many other churches Northern Europe . One of the highest representatives of the style. In all respects, the "most-most" in Lübeck.

Hospital of the Holy Spirit (Heiligen-Geist-Hospital) - built in XIII century. One of beautiful buildings V Lübeck– both outside and inside. Before 1970 years was used as a shelter for the poor and disadvantaged. Now it only partially serves its original purpose, the main part has been converted into a museum.

- the oldest of all surviving city halls in Germany. Built in XIII century. It is located, as usual, on the market square - the main place of all movements in the Middle Ages.

How to get to Lübeck

IN Lübeck there is an airport, but it is extremely small, and nothing flies there 🙂, only a couple of budget low-cost airlines. The nearest major airport is in the city Hamburg V 50 km from Lübeck. Reach from Hamburg before Lübeck you can directly from the airport by bus, but it will cost more than the most popular option - by regular train from the airport Hamburg to the main station, and from there by no less regular train to the main train station Lübeck. With trains to Germany no problems. Schedule and prices can be found on the website. www.bahn.com .

In general, the center of the old city Lübeck very compact, located within a small island. From the main station Lubeck Hauptbahnhof) the street departs Konrad Adenauer (Konrad-Adenauer-Straße), following which, in just a few minutes, you can reach Holstein Gate, and start your tour of the main city Hanseatic League - Lübeck.

Lost its former greatness as the main city of a huge trade union, but acquired the aura of a small cozy town, steeped in history and still remembering those distant times when everything was simpler and easier. Great option for a couple of days trip.