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Lübeck (
pronunc., population (2003):
214,338) is the second largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany. It was a member of
the Hanseatic League and is on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.
Lübeck is situated at the Trave river. The old part of the town is an island enclosed
by the Trave and the Elbe-Lübeck Canal. The borough Travemünde is at the coast of the Baltic Sea.
Buildings
The old town is dominated by seven church steeples. The eldest ones are the Dom and the
Marienkirche (Saint Mary), both from the 13th and 14th centuries. Once the town could only be entered by passing one of four town gates, of which the Holstentor
(1478) is the best known. The entire old town has kept a medieval look with old buildings and narrow streets.
History
Originally recorded in Germania, the area around Lübeck was by the year 1000 AD inhabited by Slavic peoples, who settled at the Trave banks some kilometers outside the today town centre. They
were subdued in 1158 by Henry the
Lion, who newly founded the city. In the 14th century Lübeck became the "Queen of the Hanseatic League", being by far the largest and most powerful member of this medieval trade organization,
before the sister city of Gdańsk took over lead in the Hansa. In 1533 an armed conflict with Denmark led to the loss of
the power.
Miscellaneous
Thomas Mann and Willy
Brandt were born in Lübeck.
Lübeck is very famous for its excellent Marzipan industry, and Marzipan was
believed to have been invented in Lübeck possibly in response to either a military siege of the city, or a famine year. The
story, perhaps apocryphal, is that the town ran out of all foods except stored almonds and sugar and made loaves of Marzipan
"bread" with it.
Others believe that Marzipan was actually invented in Persia a few hundred years
before Lübeck claims to have invented it.
In the quater Lübeck-Herrenwyk there is the static invertor station of the HVDC Baltic-Cable.
Parts
Also see
External links
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