Lübeck Things to Do Tips by sourbugger Top 5 Page for this destination

niederegger

In the past, I must admit, I have regarded the product of Marzipan with little interest. It's use seemed to consist of keeping the fruit cake part away from the icing on a Christmas cake - a kind of confectioners' dampcourse.

In Lubeck, however, I was informed that the city produces the world's finest, and there is even a 'Marzipan world' where you can learn about the process and see various architectural gems of Europe modelled in the stuff. As tourist attractions go, I suspect that 'Walt Disney world' or 'Sea World' migt have a slightly larger draw than 'Marzipan world'.

Anyway, don't take my word for it - if yellow chewy stuff is your thing then you will no doubt want to check it out. I didn't.

Directions: Breite Straße 89
D - 23552 Lübeck
phone: +49 (0)451/ 53 01 –126/ -127,

Website: http://www.niederegger.de

looking at whopping big organs...

As Romanesque buildings go, Lubeck Cathedral is quite an impressive one.

The Lutheran influence is quite clear, with much of the building have a solid, pure feeling to it. The transistion from catholic rule seems to have been relatively smooth here compared to may other German cities, and the Catholics occupy a building only a few hunded meters away.

Despite the heavy Lutheran influence and the best efforts of the RAF in 1942 (to be fair they wern't actually aiming at the Cathedral) a number of impressive works of art remain. Most impressive are a 53-foot-tall Triumphal Cross by Bernt Notke (1477) and an astronomical clock from 1625.

Also of note is the organ, begun in 1970 to replace the old organ that was finished off by Biggles and his mates. Rather impressively much of it was built 'in-situ' in an organ makers worshop inside the church.

To my mind the cathedral seems to be able to combine ancient elements with a feeling of moderness and vibrancy. A wonderful space to explore.

Salzspeicher (salt storehouses)

Next to the Holsten gate is a good example of a salt storehouse. Now used by a leading fashion department store (whose bags show a panoramic view of the gothic spires of Lubeck).

The photograph shows it in 1905, when it still presumbly had piles of salt and salted herrings hung up in their thousands. In medieval times salt was referred to as 'White Gold', as it was so necessary to preserve food in theses more northern climes. The salt came in on the 'Salt road', taking about 20 days or so with every little village and town charging a tax/toll on it as it passed through. From Lubeck it was shipped out all over the place.

Nowadays if you talked about 'White gold' most people would perhaps you were talking about a completely different powdery substance.

The shop is certainly worth a wander, if only to get a feel of how big this salt enterprise must have been.

Directions: Next to the famous Holsten gate

The Holsten gate

This 500 year old town gate is the most obvious symbol of Lubeck, and part of the UNESCO world hertitage site. There must have been thousands of traders who passed this way into the city, over-awed by this gateway to a rich Hanseatic city.

It therefore seems a pity that the magnificent brick building is constricted by a main road that wraps itself around the building like a wrestler with thighs of stone.

The building itself now contains the town museum, which is mostly in German.

My rather poor schoolboy latin failed me when tying to work out the latin inscription above the central passageway. It apparantly reads : 'harmony at home, peace outside'. Well we can agree with that sentiment.