Lübeck’s old town is located on an island, which is mainly surrounded by the Trave and Wakenitz rivers. When you enter the island from the west, you will be greeted by one of Lübeck’s most famous landmarks, namely the Holsten Gate. Beside the northern Gate, the so-called Burgtor, the Holsten Gate is the only remaining city gate of Lübeck and contains a museum about the city’s history. If you look closely, you will notice that the Holsten Gate is a little crooked. This is due to the fact that the gate was built on moor and peat, which could not withstand the heavy weight of the towers. Over the years, the left tower has sunk more and more and is now partially below ground level. The Holsten Gate is furthermore watched by a sleeping and a guarding lion made of cast iron.
The Holsten Gate photographed by @lisa_aus_luebeck
Lübeck is also often described as the “city of seven towers” because the city’s skyline is characterized by the towers of a total of five churches. The most famous church is probably St. Mary’s Church – not only because of its impressive walls, but also because of the legends surrounding it. In front of the church, you will find a little devil, who is said to have supported the construction of the church. He was tricked by the humans who told him that a wine house would be built there. However, shortly before the building was completed, the devil realized that he had been lied to and that he had helped them build a church. Filled with rage, the devil took a huge boulder and aimed for the building to destroy it. Before he could do so, the people promised him to build a pub right next to the church and so the devil dropped the boulder right next to it. To this day, the so-called “Ratskeller” is located across the church and a huge rock along with some deep traces of the devil’s claws can be found right next to the entrance of the church. In addition, a cute little figure of the devil sits on the boulder and smiles at you. His horns shimmer golden because it is believed that touching his horns will calm the devil and will bring you good luck. By the way, a tiny mouse is also hidden in the walls inside of the church and will bring you luck when touched, too!
St. Mary's Church and the little devil photographed by @lisa_aus_luebeck
Needless to say, the other churches of Lübeck are also worth a visit, since all of them have their own special features. However, another church we just have to mention is St. Peter’s Church. For a little entrance fee, you can take an elevator up to the tower and see the beautiful old town from above! From there, you will have a great view on the Holsten Gate and you will be able to discover the remaining towers of Lübeck and simply enjoy the view!
St. Peter's Church and Lübeck from above shot by @lisa_aus_luebeck
L.A. – in German also known as “Lübecker Altstadt” (a.k.a. Lübeck’s Old Town) – has about 90 mysterious passageways and courtyards to explore. They are part of UNESCO’s world heritage and most of them are open to the public and distributed within the city center. None of the passageways and courtyards resemble the other, as they accommodate different types of buildings, as well as lovely gardens arranged by the residents. The courts surround a quiet atmosphere and serve as a small refuge from turbulent life.
Some passageways and courtyards photographed by @lisa_aus_luebeck
The Unter- and Obertrave are perfect for a little stroll to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Beside lovely gable houses, you will also find some boats and ships, which provide the city with a true harbor flair.
The Untertrave photographed by @lisa_aus_luebeck
If you would like to breathe in some fresh sea air, you should pay a visit to Lübeck-Travemünde. It is located at the mouth of the river Trave in the Bay of Lübeck and is part of the Baltic Sea. A long promenade invites you to talk a breezy walk and the sandy beach is perfect to unwind. You should also jump into the water if the temperature allows it!
Travemünde photographed by Karin Belkowski
While we could not show you all of the great spots in Lübeck, we surely hope you could get a little insight of the beautiful Hanseatic city and feel like stopping by one day! Many stores in the area sell our PICKMOTION products which represent the nordic atmosphere and are a perfect gift or souvenir - so feel free to look out for them! Are you a retailer and would you like to sell some of our products? Take a look in our B2B-Shop and find all of our regional motifs!
