Hanseatic city Lüneburg

The history of Lüneburg is rich in highlights. The first traces of human settlement date back to the time of the Neanderthals. Lüneburg was first mentioned in a document of King Otto I in 956 in a document of Lüne Monastery.

The city of Lüneburg was not destroyed in the 2nd World War and thus has one of the most beautiful old towns in Germany. The typical facades of the brick Gothic, the many sights and anecdotes make it so attractive for tourists. 

The history of the city can be discovered particularly well in the Museum for the Principality of Lüneburg (Museum für das Fürstentum Lüneburg).

Lüneburg has become known all over Germany through a daily TV programme on the German channel ARD. It is called Rote Rosen (Red Roses), which is also filmed almost daily in the city and around it. With a little luck you can watch an outside filming.

The wealth of the Hanseatic city of Lüneburg is based on salt. A large part of the city is undermined by a salt dome, with which the monopoly position as a salt supplier to the Hanseatic League was established. Lüneburg was an early and very rich member of the Hanseatic League. The wealth is particularly visible in the buildings of the city. In the salt museum you can learn about the whole history.

The Sülfmeister (salt boiling masters), who today are elected annually at a major event, were the rulers of the town at that time. The council of the city of Lüneburg was able to acquire extensive rights for the city due to its wealth. Thus the church buildings in Lüneburg are still owned by the town, not by the church.

In memory of the salt extraction, a bone of the Salzsau still hangs in the old chancellery of the Lüneburg town hall. The story is told that a hunter hunted a sow whose fur was covered with salt crystals. This is how the salt was discovered underground. From that day on it was extracted through the boiling process.

Besides the wealth, the salt also brings problems to the city. Today the ground in the so-called subsidence area of the old town above the salt dome sinks dramatically and has already destroyed several buildings.

Besides a great shopping experience, there is a lot to see in Lüneburg. The Lüne Monastery, still inhabited by a convent of ladies, is one of the origins of the city.

In the historic water district, where salt was once loaded onto ships, you will now find numerous restaurants and pubs. Because of Lüneburg's university, it is now the city with the second highest density of pubs in Europe. At the Stintmarkt in the Wasserviertel you can find the old crane with which the ships were loaded.

The town hall of Lüneburg is one of the largest in Northern Germany and actually consists of several buildings along the whole street. During a tour of the town hall you will learn incredible stories about the aldermen and their activities. This is highly recommended for every holidaymaker.

Next to the town hall is the Heinrich Heine House, where the poet's parents lived from 1822 to 1826. Heine wrote several poems here. Nowadays people can get married here.

The pregnant house in Waagestraße was created by incorrectly burnt gypsum mortar, which in the course of time absorbed water and expanded. However, it is a rumour that particularly child-wanting couples come here and touch the house wall.

Not only Pisa has a leaning tower, Lüneburg also has one. Because the tower of the church St. Johannis is 2.20 m out of balance. But the church is not only known for its leaning tower, also the famous Johann Sebastian Bach learned to play the organ and compose here.

The square Am Sande next to the church used to bear his name rightly: it was sandy. Here the merchants parked their horse carriages and sold their goods. Around the square you can find particularly splendid gable houses.

The Lüneburg water tower with its viewing terrace at 56 m height offers a great view over the city. It is especially radiant during the Advent season, when Germany's highest Advent wreath is installed. With an SMS you can make the lights shine and support a project supporting children.