Things to Do in Lubeck

Holstentor – the prosperous Hanseatic City of Lübeck had to protect itself against threats over the course of centuries. Three gates allowed access to the city: Burgtor (north), Mühlentor (south) and Holstentor (west). The latter is probably the best known and most important preserved city gate of the Late Middle Ages in Germany. It is Lübeck’s only preserved city gate in addition to Burgtor. A municipal history museum is located inside the Late Gothic building.

Niederegger Marzipan – marzipan’s triumphal march around the world started in Lübeck. Johann Georg Niederegger (1777 – 1856) founded the factory which still has its headquarter in Lübeck today and is still family-owned to this day. In the Marzipan Salon you can find out how Lübeck’s delicacy is made. At Café Niederegger you can try the exclusive speciality made of almonds and take artistic creations home with you.

Behind the white front of Buddenbrook House, built in 1758, lies one of the most unique literary museums in the world, created for Expo 2000 as the world’s only literature project. In the permanent exhibition »The Buddenbrooks – Novel of the Century«, a piece of international literature becomes living reality: Thomas Mann’s book in one’s hand, one enters the upstairs rooms of the historic family home to find the novel reproduced as a walk-in story – an invitation to join in a literary puzzle.

"A graphic artist who also writes is someone who does not change the ink." (Günter Grass). The Günter Grass-House on Lübeck's Glockengießerstraße 21 is a forum for literature and visual arts. The renowned Nobel laureate had his secretariat in this house, and he lived in the environs of the Hanseatic City until his death in April 2015. The historic group of buildings therefore provides the ideal location for presenting his creative work within an up-to-date museum set-up.

St. Mary’s Church was built from 1250 to 1350 and has always been a symbol for power and prosperity in the old Hanseatic city. The so-called “Merchant's Church” is located on the highest point of Lübeck's island-shaped Old Town and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Lübeck Old Town". The brick basilica serves as a model for the Gothic brick style of churches in the Baltic region.

St. Jacob’s Church is one of the five main churches in Luebeck’s inner city. It was consecrated as a church for seafarers and fisherman, who to this day still have their assembly house in the seafarer’s association building across from the church. Lifeboat No. 2 of the in 1957 sunken tall ship “Pamir” has been located in the northern tower chapel as a memorial since the 1950s. This elevated St. Jacob’s Church to the status of a national memorial site for civilian shipping.

Discover 800 years of thrilling Hanseatic history. Since 2015 the list of museums in Lübeck has included the European Hansemuseum, the largest museum ever dedicated to the history of the Hanse. It uses impressive historical scenery, valuable original objects and innovative museum technology to take its visitors back to the Middle Ages. Experience the history of the Hanse in your own personal way!