Lübeck Maps

Lübeck is a city in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, located on the Trave River near the Baltic Sea with approximately 217,000 inhabitants. Founded in 1143, it served as the capital of the Hanseatic League from the 12th to 17th centuries and became known as the "Queen of the Hanse." The city's historic old town center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its exceptional brick Gothic architecture.

The Holstentor (Holstein Gate), built in 1464, is Lübeck's most famous landmark with its twin cylindrical towers flanking a central passageway, now housing a museum about the city's history. The Marienkirche (St. Mary's Church), completed in 1350, served as the model for numerous brick Gothic churches throughout the Baltic region and features the world's largest mechanical organ. The Lübeck Cathedral, founded in 1173, exemplifies Brick Romanesque and Gothic architecture.

The Buddenbrookhaus museum commemorates Nobel Prize-winning authors Thomas Mann and his brother Heinrich Mann, who were born in Lübeck. Thomas Mann's novel "Buddenbrooks" depicts the city's merchant culture. The Salzspeicher (Salt Warehouses), a row of historic storage buildings along the Trave River, reflect the city's medieval salt trade importance. The St. Anne's Museum Quarter preserves medieval monastery buildings with art and cultural history exhibits.

Lübeck is famous for marzipan production, particularly from the Niederegger company, with a cafe and museum devoted to the confection. The city's economy includes maritime industries, food processing, and medical technology. The University of Lübeck specializes in life sciences and medical education. The old town's narrow streets, medieval churches, and merchants' houses preserve the atmosphere of a major Hanseatic trading center. Travemünde, Lübeck's seaside district, offers beaches and serves as a ferry port with connections to Scandinavia.