Lübeck -  May 2013

On our way to the island of Rügen, from Hamburg, we visited another city of the Hanseatic League, a UNESCO Heritage site, home to Günther Grass and Willy Brandt, and the home of Niederegger Marzipan  : Lübeck!

A very picturesque town with many historic sites.  We were very lucky to have a wonderful sunny day, we walked around town, had lunch outdoors and took lots of pictures.  Here I have about 1/100th of the total.

First sight as you drive into town is the Holstentor. A Gothic brick construction, it is one of the two remaining gates to the city.  To the left of it  you see the double spires of Marienkirche and to the right the one of Petrikirche.

Lübeck announces to the world :  "Harmony Inside - Peace Outside"

Once you enter the gates the architecture of the gate is very different.  The outside is to guard the city, hence not too many openings [above], whereas once you have entered town you see plenty of windows [below].

 

Next to the gate are the salt warehouses for storing the "White Gold" of the Middle Ages.  The facades were rebuilt in the 19th century.

The market square is flanked by the town hall [Rathaus], the Kaak and St. Mary's Church. 

Part of the market facade of the town hall [below left], the other facade with Renaissance Steps [below right]

 

The Kaak, on town square, where small time crooks were put on display during the Middle Ages [below left] and another detail of the town hall [below right]

Lunch on the square and enjoying the spring sunshine [below left].  Neideregger Cafe, and after some coffee and marzipan, Stephan reorienting himself for more sightseeing [below right].

Even though I never take pictures inside a church this triptych fascinated me.  Marienalter in St. Mary's church. 

Devil's Stone - Where there is a church, there always is a myth that goes with it.  Below is the one of Lübeck's Marienkirche.

We then walked all the way to the Dom, the cathedral, where I did another mea culpa ...

... and then we walked all the way to the other end of town - to Burgtor.  Burgtor, the only other gate that is standing today, was the only land protection for Lübeck.

Finally we got back where we started and took the elevator/lift to the top of the St. Petri Church and had an overall summary of all we had done and seen during a long day.

From the tower we had a great view of the city including the parking lot where we had parked our car.
Tightly all the way to the back wall so that no one could get into our luggage.

Tired,but happy, we left Lübeck and drove to Binz on the island of  Rügen.

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