14-28 deg C, fine and sunny
Walk G: 13km; total: 444km
Walk W: 14km; total: 399km
As we had seen as much of Hamburg as we wanted, we decided to take a train to Lübeck, about 45 minutes NE. It’s in the opposite direction to where we are riding tomorrow so we wouldn’t get to see it otherwise. Greg had stayed there in 2006 after a Denmark/Sweden cycle tour with Graham W and Hutch, both from the UK. He had cycled from Copenhagen and caught a ferry across to Northern Germany.
After breakfast we walked the almost 2km to the Main Railway Station, purchased tickets from a machine, and jumped on the first train to Lübeck. 45 minutes later we were there, along with a few hundred other day trippers.
The first thing you notice about Lübeck is that a lot of the buildings look really old (medieval/Gothic) but very well maintained. So the many tourists who visit every day certainly haven’t done the towns financial situation any harm.
Our first stop was at the Tourist Info Centre for a city map and after orienting ourselves, off we went. The first thing you see is the Holsten Gate, not only because of its size and location, but also due to its lean, although it doesn’t show as much in the photos. Many of the structures that are closer to water are also on a lean. The Old Town is located on an island so we walked around the whole thing. We didn’t do everything there was to see on the map, but we gave it a good go. Like a lot of buildings in Europe, some of the ones we planned to explore were behind scaffolding, so we gave them a miss. A real interesting place with a lovely old world charm about it.
All in all we had a great day out in a different location without having to pack up and move hotels, so that was a bonus. On the way home from the train station we stopped off for dinner supplies. The usual afternoon and night time routine followed.
The Holsten Gate: Lübeck’s most famous landmark
The back of the Gate
St Peter’s Church
Built between 1227 and 1250. It is no longer a consecrated church, but instead its light, airy interior has evolved into a vibrant space for events and exhibitions.
Random picture of a flower
Lübeck river scenery
Horses’ Mill
Three different types of buildings in a row
They certainly know how to make good bread in Germany
There were lots of these little laneways dotted throughout the city
Lübeck Cathedral, aka the Dom
This three-naved church is one of the oldest monuments in Lübeck, and one of the largest brick-stone vaults in Northern Europe. During the 1942 air raids, the cathedral was completely burned down and the vaults collapsed. It has been completely restored, and houses numerous works of art such as the 17m Triumphal Cross by Bernt Notke.
Reflections
Synagogue
Possibly the spire of St Aegidien
Mummy ducky and her baby
Hospital of the Holy Spirit
Built in the Middle Ages providing care to the sick and elderly. Gothic frescoes deck the porch, while the nave is divided into tiny chambers or rooms
Probably the hospital staff room
The ward, made up of individual rooms
A typical chamber or room
Laneway scenery
House of the Seamen’s Guildhall
Lübeck Rathaus
Very hard to photograph. This structure is one of the most famous Gothic brickwork structures. It resembles a fairytale castle, combining architectural styles from three different centuries.
Former Court of Justice, now an audience hall
Our walk today in Lübeck
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