The old salt-working and Hanseatic town of Lüneberg lies on the navigable river Ilmenau at the northeast corner of Lüneberg Heath on the edge of the Elbe lowlands. It is one of the principal centers of North German brick-built architecture, with numerous buildings of the late Gothic and Renaissance periods. A new inland port on the Elbe Lateral Canal began operating in 1976.
Excursion boats ply the Ilmenau, the canals and the Elbe.
On the outskirts of Lüneburg, to the northeast, is the former nunnery of Lüne (14th-15th C.), now a women's house of retreat, with a rich collection of embroidery (on show only during one week in August).
For the textile aficionado and those interested in the Middle Ages, a visit to this convent during the week in August, when the rare embroideries are displayed, is a must.
To the east of St Nicholas's Church in Lüneburg, on the banks of the Ilmenau, are the Altes Kaufhaus, an old warehouse of 1745 with a Baroque facade, the Old Crane (Alter Kran; mentioned in the records as early as 1336) and the Abbot's Mill (Abtsmühle).
In the center of Lüneburg is the charming square called Am Sande, which is surrounded by old brick-built houses, some of them with fine stepped gables. At the west end of the square can be seen an old house (1548), now occupied by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
6km/4mi north of Lüneburg is Bardowick, which has a Cathedral (SS. Peter and Paul) with Late Romanesque west work and an aisled Gothic nave, carved winged altar of 1525 and fine Late Gothic choir-stalls.
From the Kalkberg (57 m/187ft; nature reserve) near Lüneburg there are fine views. At the foot of the hill is a geologically interesting sunken area over the Lüneburg salt deposits.
Lüneburg pays tribute to Johann Sebastian Bach in early June. Unlike many Bach festivals that include works by other musicians, this festival is dedicated solely to him.
The spa district in Lüneburg lies southeast of the old town. The old saline springs near Lambertiplatz were in use from 956 to 1980. They now form the German Salt Museum.
The salt industry was a major part of life in Lüneburg from the 12th century until 1980 when the saltworks closed.
Address: German Salt Museum, Sülfmeisterstrasse 1, D-21335 Lüneburg, Germany
Hours:
May 1 to September 30: 9am-5pm; Sun:10am-5pm; Sat:10am-5pm
October 1 to April 30: 10am-5pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26), New Year's Eve (December 31), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
The Johanniskirche (14th C.), dominating the east end of Am Sande in Lüneburg, has a 108 m/354ft high tower. Notable features of the interior (with double aisles flanking the nave) are the imposing high altar (1485), the beautiful choir-stalls (1589) and a number of monuments.
To the southeast of the Am Sande in Lüneburg is the Museum of the Principality of Lüneburg (archaeology, history of the region, religious art, town guilds, peasant furniture; specialized library).
Address: Museum Lüneburg, Wandrahmstrasse 10, D-21335 Lüneburg, Germany
10km/6mi northeast of Lüneburg and 8km/5mi east of Bardowick, on the Elbe Lateral Canal, is the Scharnebeck ship-lift, which raises and lowers ships 38 m/125ft in water-filled "troughs" 100 m/120yd long, 12 m/40ft wide and 3.50 m/11.5ft deep.
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Lüneburg - Town Hall
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Bardowick, Germany
