Luneberg Tourist Attractions

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.

To the south of the Am Sande in Lüneburg, at Ritterstrasse 10, is the Museum of East Prussia (land and culture of East Prussia).

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).

From Am Sande in Lüneburg, the Kleine and Grosse Bäckerstrasse (pedestrian zone) run north to the Markt, with the Diana Fountain (Luna Fountain) of 1530. On the west side of the square stands the Town Hall, a group of buildings dating from the 13th-18th centuries with a Baroque facade of 1720 richly decorated with figures. Of the many well-preserved rooms in the interior the most notable are the arcaded Court Room (c. 1330) with its stained glass windows and painted timber ceiling (c. 1530). The Cloth Hall (c. 1450) has reproductions of the famous Lüneburg municipal silver plate. The Old Chancery (1433), the Great Council Chamber (1466-84) with its fine carving, and the Princes' Hall (15th C.) are of interest as well.In the Town Hall tower is a carillon of 42 bells of Meissen porcelain.

On the western edge of Lüneburg's old town is the Michaeliskirche (14th-15th C.).

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.

North of the Markt in Lüneburg stands the Nikolaikirche (consecrated 1409).

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).

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.

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.

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.