7 Best Things To Do In Luneburg, Germany

1. German Salt Museum (Deutsches Salzmuseum)

If you are visiting the historical town of Luneburg, Germany, then you must visit this Salt Museum. It is located in the central part of town, in the same premises as Edeka supermarket, and will help you to understand this ancient city. The Salt Museum has a 1,000 year history of salt production for the entire Luneberg area and now this place functions as a museum drawing thousands of visitors every year because of its uniqueness.

After its closure in 1980, the entire complex comprising of old buildings and a few remains was placed under the protection of historic buildings. A visit here will help you understand the whole process of salt manufacturing in the olden days. It contains places like the Boiling house of 1924, the Donkey stable, and the Well house, which are informative for kids and adults.

Salt Museum

Website: Salt Museum

2. Relax at the wonderful landscape of Kurpark

Kurpark in Luneburg is a wonderful park for relaxation, established in 1907. The park was built according to the tradition of English landscape parks. The abundance of salt in Luneburg is the reason why there is a salt brine concentrating house here, the salt water drips through the framework of blackthorn, and the air has this saltiness to it which apparently is good for your breathing.

There are different varieties of trees in the park like the Himalaya birches, maples and oaks, various types of beeche and larches. Visitors lie down, play with their children on the lawns or just sit down on the park benches. The park also has a stage for concerts and an open auditorium. There is also a café you can take advantage of here.

Kurpark

Website: Kurpark

3. The ancient St. Nicolai Kirche

The St. Nicolai Church in Luneburg is the newest of the three Gothic churches here. It is mainly worshiped by the boatmen and fishermen of the area. It was built in 1407 and has a three-aisled basilica. The central part of the church is twice the height of the side parts. The nave of the church is spanned by an eight point star vault which is a unique architecture in north Germany. The church has been restored many times and so it is characterized by 19th-century architecture. The church has beautiful treasures of Gothic paintings and carvings.

St. Nicolai Church

Website: St. Nicolai Church

4. Lune Abbey

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

Lune Abbey was built for Benedictine nuns, but as of today, it is the home to Lutheran conventuals. It is one of many monastries and was founded in 1172 by Hildeswidis von Markboldestorp. There is no mention of any observances to be followed by Hugo, Bishop of Verden, so it has been used as a chapter of canonesses. Only in 1272 the nunnery was described in documents as an abbey for the Benedictine nuns and so from 14th-century, Benedictine observances have been recorded.

The abbey has on display valuable pieces of white embroidery on altar cloths, fasting cloths and carpets, with the oldest one dating to about 1250, and these are displayed in its textile museum on the open grounds of the monastery, which was opened in 1995. Inside the church on top of the altar in Nonnenchor, there is a painting from the Lucas Cranach the Elder. There are valuable wall paintings from around 1500 in the monastery refectory as well.

Lune Abbey

Website: Lune Abbey

5. Visit the Luneburg Heath Wildlife Park

The Luneburg Heath Wildlife Park is an amazing animal park located near Nindorf, Luneburg in Germany. The park has around 1,000 animals which include snow-leopards, wild bears, wolves, moose, lynxes, reindeers, wapitis, polar foxes, feral cats, wild raccoons, yaks and dogs-of-prairies. It has recently added the Siberian tiger, which is a huge attraction among tourists. Kids and young people can take advantage of an adventure playground here which has an interesting show of birds of prey.

People can carry their own food into the park and instead of carrying it, they can borrow a pull along cart. It has restaurants for food and drinks which are reasonable also.

Luneburg Heath Wildlife Park

Website: Luneburg Heath Wildlife Park

6. Rathaus or Luneburg Town Hall

The Luneburg Town Hall is a perfect example of the medieval style and the early-modern architecture in Germany. It was built in 1230 and has been improvised over the centuries and today is the headquarters of the Council and Administration of the Hanseatic City of Luneburg.

It is surrounded by the streets Am Markt on the east, Waagestraße on the south, Am Marienplatz on west and Am Ochsenmarkt on the north. It is the largest medieval town hall in the north part of Germany. There are guided tours available where you can visit the historical Court of Appeals, Fürstenaal, Mayor’s Chamber, Old Archives and the Chancellery.

Rathaus

Website: Rathaus - in German)

7. Visit the Alter Kran

Alter Kran or the old crane in Wasserviertel in Luneburg, Germany is a favorite among visitors here every day. The wooden copper covered “old crane” was built in 1346, and it was used to lift salt of Luneburg saline, so that it could be shipped over the Stecknitz canal to the city of Lübeck. The crane also lifted firewood and all sorts of other goods.

The heaviest loads lifted with its help was a steam locomotive for the Braunschweig-Vienenburger Bahn via the waterway from England to Luneburg in the 19th-century. Today, the old crane enjoys its historical importance and is considered a hallmark of the town of Luneburg.

Alter Kran

Website: Alter Kran - in German)

Luneburg: a historical town and much more!

Luneburg was the salt capital of Germany in the yesteryears, but today it is emerging into a modern town with the luxuries and amenities one needs. It is steeped in history and culture and one must visit Luneburg to get a glimpse of its glorious past.