Lübeck, 1 hôtel

The Holsten Gate houses the Museum of City History behind its walls, which are up to 3.5 metres thick. In 2003, the building was modernised and a new exhibition was launched under the title: "The Power of Trade". The exhibition comprises seven themed areas with different installations. The themed areas highlight, for example, Europe-wide foreign trade during the time of the Hanseatic League. It’s not surprising that the armament of Holsten Gate is also featured since, as part of the fortifications, it was also used to defend the city. The city gate has never been attacked in its history.

Located on the Upper Trave River right next to the Holsten Gate, the Salzspeicher are hard to miss. The brick Renaissance-style buildings were built between 1579 and 1745 as warehouses for salt that was transported from Lüneburg via the old Salzstraße and then to Lübeck by river boat. The "white gold" was exported to Scandinavia and helped the city of Lübeck to prosper. The former salt warehouses are still used commercially today Some people may recognize the brick buildings from the silent film "Nosferatu", in which the brick gabled houses become the vampire's new home.

The Passat four-masted barque is a beautiful sailing ship that’s anchored in Travemünde. It was decommissioned in Lübeck's port on the Baltic Sea after being bought by the city in 1959, and became a stationary museum ship in 1960. The Passat has even been listed as a historical monument since 1978 and, with its 56-metre-high masts, is one of Travemünde’s main landmarks. 115 metres long and up to 14.3 metres wide, the Passat was launched in 1911 and has an eventful history, including being used as a freight carrying school ship between Europe and South America's east coast. The Passat is open daily to visitors from April to October.

Just 22 km from the old town of Lübeck, in the Bay of Lübeck, is the Baltic Sea resort of Travemünde. Travemünde is the northernmost borough of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck, and is affectionately known as "the city’s bathtub". Around 200 years ago, the resort’s beach attracted its first bathers. It was officially named a "seaside resort" in 1802 and even Emperor Wilhelm II was said to have spent some time there in around 1902. And Travemünde is just as popular today: with its stunning promenade, kilometre-long sandy beach, play areas, deckchairs and beach chairs, it is one of the most beautiful seaside resorts in Europe. A visit here is not to be missed.

Built between 1250 and 1350, St. Mary's is Germany’s third largest church. With its central nave of almost 40 metres and the world’s tallest brick vault, the church is a prominent feature in Lübeck’s cityscape. Visitors to St. Mary’s can admire important works of art, such as the triumphal crucifix by Gerhard Marcks and the winged altarpiece by Christian Swarte (built in 1495), as well as the organ built in 1968, which was the largest mechanical-action organ in the world. St. Mary’s was almost completed destroyed during the air raid in 1942. The remains of the fallen bells that struck the bottom of the South Tower during the attack were preserved as a memorial to those who died.

St. Petri Church contributes to the impressive cityscape of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck with its church tower. The church was first mentioned in the archives together with Marienkirche Church in Lübeck in 1170. During its history, it was expanded several times. It was completed in the 15th century. On Palm Sunday 1942, it fell victim to the Second World War and unfortunately burned down completely. Today St. Petri is no longer used for church services, but offers space for themed evenings and events. You can climb the look-out tower and enjoy the “Lübeck view”, as well as the ambience of the café.

Lübeck Town Hall is located on Marktplatz Square and, thanks to its impressive facade, is hard to miss. It makes it one of the most beautiful and largest town halls in Germany. A tour of the town hall is a must on your visit to this Hanseatic city. The construction of the town hall began in 1230, shortly after the award of the freedom of the empire. Interesting fact: The doors of the former courtroom on the ground floor are different heights. Defendants who were acquitted were allowed to leave the hall through the high door, while convicts had to pass through the low door, taking off their hats and lowering their heads.