Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
The National Geographic Endeavour left Danish waters during the night and traveled the short distance to it's neighbor Germany, arriving at the mouth of the River Trave in the early morning. We took on a pilot at the port of Travemunde at approximately 0600 and began our journey of 20 miles southwest up the river to our berthing at the Burgtor terminal near the center of the town of Lübeck. The city we shall be exploring is the magnificent Queen of the Hanseatic League. It was founded in the 12th century and prospered until the 16th century as the major trading city for northern Europe; it has remained a center of maritime commerce to this day, particularly with the Nordic countries. Lübeck retained the status of free Hanseatic city until 1937! Despite the damage it suffered during WWII (40% to inner and outer areas of the city), the basic structure of the old town, consisting mainly of 15th and 16th century patrician residences, public monuments (such as the famous Holstentor brick gate), churches and salt storehouses, remains unaltered and intact. The inner city of Lübeck remains one of the finest examples of medieval Gothic architecture in Northern Europe, and as such was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
After breakfast we were invited to move from one form of water transportation to another! Leaving the National Geographic Endeavour, we made a short walk to two picturesque canal boats for a one-hour circumnavigation of downtown Lübeck, an island enclosed by the Trave and the Elbe-Lübeck Canal, ending at the Mengstr Pier. After seeing many of the major sights of the city by water, we began a walking tour to visit these well-known monuments at a much closer range. The day was warm, sunny and the streets were bustling with locals, tourists and the general business atmosphere of a city long in the tradition of trade. In our walking tour we visited Buddenbrockhous, the Rathaus (town hall), St. Jakobs Church and Marienkirche, one of the most beautiful and definitely one of the largest of the churches associated with the era surround the Hanseatic League.
After the morning city tour, our options were open. Many of us adjourned to the restaurants of Lübeck for a typical German midday meal, accompanied by the finest in German beer! Afterwards we began individual explorations of this beautiful German city. Like the traders before us, we walked the streets stopping at Niederegger the famous marzipan producers, or Karstadt, one Germany's largest department stores. Some of us window-shopped finding the famous small and intricately carved wooden Christmas ornaments, fabulous linens, wine merchants and the open markets in the main squares where wears from all over Europe could be found. As the afternoon moved on towards early evening many of us found a small café where an iced coffee called our names…and we watched as the movement of Lubeck carried on around us….thinking back to nearly one thousand years ago….possibly a simpler table….simpler wares, but still a city of traders; the Hansa who began the art of international trade in Northern Europe. So much to reflect upon, at a comfortable table on a narrow street where so many other travelers had journeyed before us.
The National Geographic Endeavour left Danish waters during the night and traveled the short distance to it's neighbor Germany, arriving at the mouth of the River Trave in the early morning. We took on a pilot at the port of Travemunde at approximately 0600 and began our journey of 20 miles southwest up the river to our berthing at the Burgtor terminal near the center of the town of Lübeck. The city we shall be exploring is the magnificent Queen of the Hanseatic League. It was founded in the 12th century and prospered until the 16th century as the major trading city for northern Europe; it has remained a center of maritime commerce to this day, particularly with the Nordic countries. Lübeck retained the status of free Hanseatic city until 1937! Despite the damage it suffered during WWII (40% to inner and outer areas of the city), the basic structure of the old town, consisting mainly of 15th and 16th century patrician residences, public monuments (such as the famous Holstentor brick gate), churches and salt storehouses, remains unaltered and intact. The inner city of Lübeck remains one of the finest examples of medieval Gothic architecture in Northern Europe, and as such was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
After breakfast we were invited to move from one form of water transportation to another! Leaving the National Geographic Endeavour, we made a short walk to two picturesque canal boats for a one-hour circumnavigation of downtown Lübeck, an island enclosed by the Trave and the Elbe-Lübeck Canal, ending at the Mengstr Pier. After seeing many of the major sights of the city by water, we began a walking tour to visit these well-known monuments at a much closer range. The day was warm, sunny and the streets were bustling with locals, tourists and the general business atmosphere of a city long in the tradition of trade. In our walking tour we visited Buddenbrockhous, the Rathaus (town hall), St. Jakobs Church and Marienkirche, one of the most beautiful and definitely one of the largest of the churches associated with the era surround the Hanseatic League.
After the morning city tour, our options were open. Many of us adjourned to the restaurants of Lübeck for a typical German midday meal, accompanied by the finest in German beer! Afterwards we began individual explorations of this beautiful German city. Like the traders before us, we walked the streets stopping at Niederegger the famous marzipan producers, or Karstadt, one Germany's largest department stores. Some of us window-shopped finding the famous small and intricately carved wooden Christmas ornaments, fabulous linens, wine merchants and the open markets in the main squares where wears from all over Europe could be found. As the afternoon moved on towards early evening many of us found a small café where an iced coffee called our names…and we watched as the movement of Lubeck carried on around us….thinking back to nearly one thousand years ago….possibly a simpler table….simpler wares, but still a city of traders; the Hansa who began the art of international trade in Northern Europe. So much to reflect upon, at a comfortable table on a narrow street where so many other travelers had journeyed before us.
