The beautiful Medieval town of Lüneburg should be on your “to visit” list. Lüneburg’s charm comes from its well-preserved Altstadt. Since it’s off the tourist trail, you won’t be mobbed by massive busloads of tourists. A calming effect comes from being a Kur-Ort (Spa Town), so it’s easy to lose yourself in the joy of wandering around enjoying the buildings, parks, museums, and cafes. Frankly, that’s enough for me, but I know that more than a few of you, my daughter included, want to know what to DO in Lüneburg. Luckily, this University town has nightlife for younger people too. In fact, Lüneburg is the town with the second highest bar density in Europe. And, for wanderers and other outdoor enthusiasts, it’s a great “layover” spot before a big day of hiking in the Lüneburger Heide.
Let me share our adventure with you.
What to Do in Lüneburg Germany
Lüneburg first got its first mention in public records in 956 AD by Otto 1, although people had lived on the site much longer. The city’s wealth came from salt. The salt mine was active for over 1000 years, giving Lüneburg the monopoly on the salt trade in the Hanseatic League. You can see the results today; this “White Gold” meant that many of the buildings in town were built with Gothic brick. I realize that being on the European Route of Gothic Brick is not as exciting or romantic as being on the Fairy Tale Route, but Lüneburg truly is an amazing and impressive town to visit.
Wander around Am Sande
We started in the main town square of Lüneburg, Am Sande, the perfect place to window-shop and bummel.
A grey day in northern Germany
The Gothic style buildings are mostly made from brick. A sign that the town had wealth from the Hanseatic League. Although they may be old on the outside, inside they had modern and interesting shops and restaurants.
Alter Kran
Literally, the old Crane. This old piece of engineering was critical for loading salt onto barges. Today, it’s a focal centerpiece for the harbor (this part of Lüneburg sits on the Ilmenau).
Der Stintmarkt : Lüneburg Hafen
Ok, a crane isn’t super exciting, but it sits across from one of the best places to visit in Lüneburg, der Stintmarkt. What’s a Stint? It’s a type of fish similar to a herring. Once, this was a bustling marketplace for Salt and Fish. Today? It’s home to some of the best bars and restaurants in Lüneburg. And on a warm summer day, nothing beats sitting by the water and enjoying the views. (Did I mention that Lüneburg is the town with Europe’s second-highest bar density? That’s ALL OF EUROPE!).
Salzmuseum – German Salt Museum
I LOVE small museums. They can provide such interesting education on a single topic. And in this case, we learned everything you ever wanted to know (and more) about SALT. What makes salt such a big deal? They didn’t call it white gold for nothing. Before refrigeration, salt was a food preservative. And the ability to preserve food meant the difference between life and death.
Workers leached salt from the ground, sifted it, and dried the mineral in giant ovens. From Lüneburg, salt was transported all over Europe. Money flowed back to Lüneburg, making the city incredibly wealthy. The salt mining went on for 1024 years! Finally, the ground began to give way under Lüneburg, causing buildings to shift and settle. Since salt had lost much of its value, operations ceased.
The museum, which you enter through the doors of an old freight car, has all sorts of exhibits, including a GIANT block of salt, old mining machinery, a huge collection of salt shakers, and some fun hands-on activities for the kids (of all ages).
Raw Salt Stone
Kurpark and Gradierwerk
Lüneburg has only been a Kurort (Spa Resort) since 1907, but it has something no other Kurort has. Take a quiet walk through the Kurpark, and you will come across the Gradierwerk. This funky-looking building was designed to aid in the healing of respiratory ailments. How? Salt Water from the brine spring below the town is fed over Blackthorn brushwood, and the droplets splash when they hit the wood and spray out, evaporating in the air. Patients sit in front of the structure and breathe it in.
Ahhhhhh….
In Lüneburg Germany, there are surprises around every corner…
The Rathaus
The historic Rathaus (City Hall) dates back to the 1200s and is the largest Medieval City Hall in Northern Germany. War never damaged the building, so it’s incredibly well-preserved. Originally, it was Gothic brick, like most of the buildings in Lüneburg, but a storm in the early 1700s damaged the facade, so it was replaced with the current Baroque facade.
I took a walk after dinner… and the lights made magic!
The fountain in the Rathaus square… look at that Mosaic work
It’s always good to look UP.
Eating and Drinking in Lüneburg Germany
With so many fantastic bars and restaurants (and Kneipen) it’s easy to figure out what to do in Luneburg Germany!
Thanks to my daughter and traveling partner.
The Bar/ Restaurant September was the perfect place to end our day.
The perfect way to prepare for a hike in the Lüneburger Heide! Breakfast at Anna’s Cafe
Why go to Lüneburg?
Looking for a beautiful Medieval town to spend a few easy days just ENJOYING life? No need to race around or DO things? Lüneburg is the perfect place to catch your breath on any German vacation.