'''Luneburg''' (also Lueneburg or Lunenburg) is the main economic and administrative centre for the region of northeastern Lower Saxony, Germany, about 50km southeast of Hamburg. The city is the capital of the district of Luneburg. Population: 70,312 (2005).
Understand
The official foundation of the city dates from 956, but might have been mentionned under an other name, '''Leuphana''', in earlier records.
Luneburg was built on a salt mine which made the city a great power in the middle ages through 1600 when it started to decline. Much of the wealth stemming from the salt trade can still be seen in the city which boasts many contructions from these richer times. Although salt is no longer extracted from the mine since 1980, its benefits can be enjoyed in the two large salt pools in the Salu (see below).
Unlike many cities in in Germany, '''Luneburg''' was spared during WWII and none of its historical buildings were damaged.
Luneburg is also a favoured university location, offering a "young" life in an historical surrounding. The University has over 10,000 students, with programs in areas from economics to the sciences.
The University moved to a new campus in 1997 when a former army complex was turned into a university - a unique conversion project in Germany of which the city is very proud.
Get in
Since the building of the "Autobahn 250" highway in 1996, the drive to Hamburg is only half an hour by car or train.
The best way to enter the city is thus by train or car via Hamburg, which is the closest airport to the city. Lubeck and Hanover are also about one hour away by rail.
Get around
Getting around the city is done mostly by foot, as cars have limited access to the heart of the city.
See
In the Pedestrian Zone
'''City hall''' - The construction of the Rathaus, or city hall, began in 1230 and grew until 1720 when its baroque facade was constructed. The hall's Clarion contains 41 bells made of Meissner porcelain and rings several times daily. The '''Luneburg''' Rathaus is said to be one of the most beautiful in Germany, only rivaled by Lubeck's city hall.
Information:
Am Markt 1
21335 Luneburg
Phone: 04131/ 309 203
Open 10-17
Tours Daily
'''The Market''' - The market is directly in front of the city hall and is held every Wednesday and Saturday from 7AM-1PM, all year. Every year the '''Christmas market''' is held in this location, starting the first week of advent.
Also in the middle of the marketplace you can see the Luna fontain with the figure of Diana (the God of hunting), a work of the sculptor E. Bruggemann known as "Lunasaeule" (Luna fontain) because of the moon ornament.
'''The Johannis Church''' - The '''Sankt Johannis''' Church's construction started in 1289. Now a Lutherian church, it was first Catholic until its conversion in the 15th century. While its spectacular interior justifies the visit, the church also posseses many treasures and works of art from the past, for instance a gold tabernacle from the 14th century and many precious paintings. Many concerts are offered year-wide including several short organ concerts 2 evenings a week. If you look at the tower, you will notice that it is not straight. With time the tower shifted 200 cm to the west.
'''The Fish Market''' - Or ''Am Stint'' is also known as the longest pub mile in Luneburg. In the summer, the many pubs and restaurants of this area transform into large terraces and beer gardens. The fish market is also where visitors can board boats to ride on the Ilmenau river.
'''The "Am Sande" District'''
'''Schroder Street'''
'''The Old Crane'''
'''The Lune Mill'''
'''The Bell House'''
A bit further, but still close
'''St. Michaelis Church''' - The '''Michaeliskirche''', in the '''Altstadt''', once hosted a chorus for boys of poor families with outstanding treble voices. Its most famous student was '''Johann Sebastian Bach''' who from 1700 to 1703 attended the Michaelisschule and sang soprano in the church's chorus. When around 1703 his voice changed, he continued playing the harpsichord in the orchestra to accompany the choir.
Another good reason to visit the church is its interesting architecture. Although some foundations for a previous church (Kloster) date from 956, the construction of the foundations of the actual church started in 1376 and were finished in 1379. The building itself was finished in 1412, while the tower was only finished in 1434. However its old construction with one of the oldest bells in Europe is not its main feature.
Since the building was built on salt mines, over time and because of over mining, the ground under the church dropped by 70 cm which also shifted the structure of the church in a very interesting and creepy way. Although strong steel braces now support the contruction, one cannot help to notice that most of the main supports and gothic columns of the building lay very crooked. Even the orchestra section lays askew.
'''The "Senkungsgebiet"'''
Being the oldest part of the medieval city, there are a lot of small, beautiful houses, many of them having been carefully restored.
The salt was found below this part of the city. As it was fetched by floating the salt gallery (that was not supported sufficiently afterwards) the city sank over the years. Nowerdays it is about 5 meters lower than it was in the beginning of the salt mining. If you stand on the Marienplatz and look into the direction of the Michaelis Church, you get a good impression of this.
'''The Salu Spa''', Uelzener Strasse 1-5, 21335 Luneburg, Tl. (0 41 31)723-0. Opening hours: Monday through Saturday 10-23, Sundays and holidays 8-21 (the admission desk closes one hour before the official closing time). The Salu Spa is a thermal bath complex comprising indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, as well as massage and gym facilities in addition to a bar and restaurant. A very nice place to relax after a long day especially in the winter. The complex features a nice large wave pool, several whirlpools, a children pool with a huge slide, an heated indoor/outdoor pool open year round and a salt floating pool. All pools are saline. The sauna area features a steam bath, an outdoor sauna with fire place, a Finnish sauna, a eucalyptus sauna, a light sauna, in addition to a rose aromatherapy room. But remember, you are in Northern Europe so everyone is naked (don't worry, not in the pool area...) and the facilities are mixed. Upon reservation, the place offers massages of all types, private floating baths, a relaxarium, and some other cosmetic services.
'''The "Kalkberg "Mountain"'''. The Chalk gained from this small mountain was used for building houses. In the Katzenstrasse, there is a house with a huge buckle in the wall. This was caused by the chalk in the mortar that absorbed water from the air and because of this lost its stability. Some houses broke down because of this loss of stability, but this one remained. It's a nice little walk up the Kalkberg Hill, and you have a good view over the city.
'''The Kurpark'''. Every city has its green area where people flock on sunny days for sports and BBQs. The Kurpark is Luneburg's Central Park, with large green areas for sunbathing, a large fountain, ponds, and walking trails.
'''The Convent Lune'''.
Buy
Salt Bags: These small bags are filled with Luneburg's salt. Some of them have printed on them the verse "Brot und Salz, Gott erhalt's" (Bread and Salt, my God preserve it). In Germany, it is a tradition to present bread and salt to people when they move into a new home. As bread and salt were considered to be the most precious things for a family's living, the wish is that the should never miss it.
Eat
Drink
Beer is a local affair in regions of Germany. Most towns and regions have their own distinctive beers often only available in pubs, thus the importance of sampling local products when visiting different German cities.
Although it is now brewed in Hamburg, Luneburg's official beer, the ''Luneburger Pilsner'', can be enjoyed in the many restaurants, bars and pubs of the city. However its producation is relatively small, so it is not possible to buy bottled versions of this beer.
Another star of the city is the ''Moravia Pils'' produced at the '''Kronen-Brauhaus zu Lueneburg''' since 1485 [http://www.krone-lueneburg.de]. The Kronen is a nice traditional pub which doubles as brewing museum in the center of the city. Contrary to the "Luneburger Pilsner", this beer can be bought in bottles in stores.
Some pubs like ''Malzer''', right next to the Kronen brewery also brew their own delicious beer served in ceramics mugs.
The Stint (Am Stint) used to be the street where night life took place. This changed a bit as other pubs in the city established themselves, but still there are some very nice pubs to be found at the Stint.
*Pons: the oldest pub in Luneburg, declicious bio beer!
The Schroeder street: packed with terraces, it is a central meeting point in the summer.
*Maxx
*News
*Toro
*Comodo (brand new)
Vamos: the university bar is a bit outside the city but sometimes presents interesting concerts and usually hosts its share of student parties.
Sleep
'''Bergstrom''', tel. (0 41 31) 308-0. [http://www.bergstroem.de].
'''Seminaris Hotel Luneburg''', tel. (0 41 31) 371-30, [http://www.seminaris.de].
'''Das Stadthaus''', tel. (0 41 31) 444 38, [http://www.das-stadthaus.de].
'''Hotel Heidpark''', tel. (0 41 31) 67 32-0, [http://www.heidpark.de].
'''Kunsthotel Residenz''', tel. (0 41 31) 75 99-10, [http://www.residenzhotel.de].
'''Park-Hotel Luneburg, garni''', tel. (0 41 31) 4 11 25, [http://www.parkhotel-lueneburg.de].
'''Hotel Bargenturm''', tel. (0 41 31) 72 90, [http://www.bargenturm.de].
'''Tagungshotel Ellernhof''', tel. (05851) 97 88 68, [http://www.ellernhof.de].
Get out