Why You Should Visit Luebeck, Germany

There are many wonderful spots to visit in Germany. One of the country's best-kept secrets is Luebeck, located 66 kilometers (41 miles) northeast of Hamburg. Luebeck is widely considered to be the Marzipan Capital of the World, among other things.

Marzipan is a wonderful almond-sugar delicacy. There are a few colourful stories surrounding the birth of marzipan, the most prominent being that this confection was invented in Luebeck in 1800. Marzipan is available in abundance at the numerous stores on the cobble-stoned streets of the City Centre shopping district. Do forget about your current diet and stop into Niederegger for free samples and an earful of local marzipan myth while you are here.

Founded in 1143 by Adolphus of Schauenburg, Luebeck was the first city in Germany to be built on the Baltic Sea. The city failed in its first attempts to be solvent and was burned to the ground in 1157. The city finally became popular in 1159, when it was re-founded by Henry the Lion. Luebeck was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.

The main language of Luebeck is Deutsch, but most of the merchants have employees who are fairly fluent in English. Tour Guides can be hired in German, English, French, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Spanish, Italian, Low German and Japanese. The people here are very patient though, if you wish to try out what you learned in German class.

Luebeck has five movie theatres, a Water Park at Kaisertor, and boat tours of the Elbe-Luebeck Canal can be taken mid-May through mid-September. The boat leaves every Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 from Holstentorterrassen wharf at the Obertrave.

The Freilichtbuhne at the city wall is an open-air theatre with 1,200 seats. The schedule for this stage is varied and eclectic. During the summer months you can catch an opera, enjoy a Rock or Country concert, or even watch a cult-classic film.

Nestled inside beautiful old buildings, you will find some of the best shopping in Germany. The unit of commerce here is the Euro, which converts to about 70 cents on the American dollar. Many of these wonderful little shops cater to teens. You can get some unbelievable deals in these stores, so make sure you leave enough room in your suitcase to bring your new purchases home with you.

Dining runs the full range from extravagant to McDonalds and every price range in between, with the majority falling into the lower-end of the pricing spectrum. This makes Luebeck a great choice for the traveling student on a budget. Do try the mouth-watering schnitzel at the Rat Cellar, so named because it is located in the basement of Rathaus.

Likewise, accommodations span from the expensive Swiss Moevenpick Hotel chain, which starts at 125 Euros, down to a myriad of very affordable hostels starting as low as 20 Euros. In between the two extremes are many wonderfully European inns and bed-n-breakfasts tucked conveniently into the midsts of the main shopping area.

Luebeck is also home to Willy Brandt, the 1971 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, and to Thomas Mann, the 1929 Nobel Peace Prize winner for literature. Very few places can claim two winners, a distinction that this town is very proud of. Evidence of this can be found everywhere you look in the form of framed newspaper clippings, pictures, statues, and the famous Buddenbrook House from Mann's award winning novel Buddenbrooks.

For those who enjoy sightseeing, Luebeck shines. The architecture alone is enough to leave one standing around with mouth agape. The minute you step into the Old Town area of Luebeck, you will feel as though you have been transported back in time. This city has taken great pains to maintain their sense of history.

There are numerous museums here, including the world's largest museum for puppets. The Puppet Theatre Museum spans 5 historic houses, which are connected to the Luebeck Marionette Theatre. This collection of puppets, props, stages, graphics, posters and barrel organs spans three centuries worth of marionette history.

The Museum for Natural History and Environment is located on the former estate of physician Johann Julius Walbaum. This museum comprises three floors full of exhibits dealing with the local flora and fauna of the region, which spans between the North and the Baltic Sea. The main exhibit of this museum is the ten million year old skeleton of the Pampau whale.

St Anne's Museum is housed in an Augustinian convent dating to the early 16th Century. It is home to numerous hand-carved altarpieces of mid-Medieval German origin and a significant collection of ecclesiastical art. Hans Memling's 1491 sculpture, the famed Passion Altar, can also be seen here.

One of the most important Middle-ages monasteries in northern Germany is the Castle Monastery, built in 1229. Having been a house for the poor, a prison, and a courthouse, it now is home to live theatre, lectures, musical productions, and two permanent exhibits: "Pepper and cloth for Mark and Dukaten - the coin treasure of a Hanseatic merchant" and " ... gone like a shadow - aspects of Jewish life in Luebeck"

Built by a merchant for the Queen of the Hanseatic League in the 15th century, Holsten Gate is an impressive remnant from medieval times. The official landmark of Luebeck, this remaining gate was once the middle of three identical gates, which protected the city in its heyday of merchant activity. The massive structure now houses a museum dedicated to merchant life in the middle-ages.

Luebeck's tourist centre is housed in The Kanzleigebäude, a building built in 1485. Here is where you can get your questions answered while admiring the impressive paneling work of Tönnies Evers the Younger in the Renaissance Hall. They will be happy to direct you to any number of bicycle rentals or help you with the bus schedule when you get tired of walking.

If you wish to avoid the summer flocks of tourists and immerse yourself in European heritage and culture, Luebeck is good spot to do so. You may not get completely away from the crowd here, but it is much less hectic than the more popular destinations in Germany.

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**An Edited version of my article appeared in the May 2006 issue of Teen Trend Magazine