If you come to Lübeck from the south, you will cross the Doll's Bridge and see one of the perhaps most marvellous urban entrances of Germany with the Holsten Gate, St. Mary's Church, the tower of St. Peter's Church and on the right in front of them the old salt warehouses of Lübeck.

Holstentor: built 1467-1478	Petrikirche ,	Salt warehouses: here the white gold was stored, built 16th - 18th century

Lübeck, the present world cultural treasure and once "Queen of the Hanse", was founded in 1143 as a Christian merchant settlement (trading community) by Count Adolf of Schauenburg. After the city was put to ashes in a fire in 1157, Heinrich der Löwe (Henry the Lion) founded Lübeck anew on the old site in 1158/59. After Lübeck became the Bishop's seat in 1160, Heinrich der Löwe laid the cornerstone of one of the largest brick buildings of the north, the Lübeck Cathedral.

Lübeck Cathedral

In 1226 emperor Frederick II granted the citizens of Lübeck self-government. This autonomous statehood lasted 711 years. The magistrate of Lübeck had St. Mary's Church erected next to the town hall.

Town Hall: Renaissance-staircase, built 1570 - 72

After several changes in the construction the church was completed in 1350. Until some hundred years ago St. Mary's Church in Lübeck had the world's tallest twin towers of 125 m.

Marienkirche (built 1200-1350)

At the end of the 13th century also the Holy Ghost Hospital was built, along with several houses of burghers and merchants with their graded gables.

Hospital of the Holy Ghost: built in the 13th century

Since building grounds in Lübeck ran out in the 14th century, gates were broken in the extant facades to use the gardens and back courtyards for building. Thus rose small single-storey houses along narrow passageways for the poorer inhabitants and residential courts for the wealthier families. Quite a number of these courts and single-story passageway-houses can still be seen nowadays. The structure of the street network on the city island has not been changed since the Middle Ages.

Typical historic street

Culture in Lübeck is also highly ranked. 30 salaried and honorary church musicians, the theatre comprising opera, operetta and drama, symphony concerts and chamber music provide a substantial offer year round.

Among the several museums of Lübeck, the St. Anne's-Museum is one of the most magnificent. Built into a former cloister complex, it rates as one of the most beautiful museums in Germany and displays one of the most significant collections of ecclesiastic art.

But also other museums, like the Behnhaus (city painting collection), Buddenbrook-House, Castle Cloister (Burgkloster), arsenal (Zeughaus) are much worth a visit.