Lübeck

Lübeck is the second largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany. The city borders the Baltic Sea; Hamburg lies 58 km to the southwest. The old city survived from medieval times and is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lübeck was historically an independent city state, and was the capital of the Hanseatic League. It became part of Germany after the Second World War. It is located on the Trave River, and is the largest German port city on the Baltic Sea.

The main attraction is the medieval Altstadt located on an island surrounded by the Trave river and channels. Listed as an UNESCO heritage site, it offers an astonishing variety of different architectural styles. The streets of Luebeck are a delight for a connaisseur of architecture.

Bear in mind that Lübeck's Altstadt is not an open-air museum but a living city centre, so don't expect a complete medieval sight. You'll find many beautiful old buildings intertwined with modern ones and a modern infrastructure. A particularly well-preserved 13th c. part of the Altstadt is the Koberg area at the island's northern end. And don't miss the Gänge, small streets off the bigger roads, with small houses and a peculiar atmosphere.