Lübeck

Lübeck is a city in Schleswig-Holstein, 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 district Travemünde[?] is at the coast of the Baltic Sea. 215,330 inhabitants (end of 2001).

Willy Brandt and Thomas Mann were born in Lübeck.

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 Lübeck was inhabited by Slavic peoples, who settled at the Trave banks some kilometres outside the today town centre. They were subdued in 1158 by Heinrich der Löwe (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 organisation. In 1533 an armed conflict with Denmark led to the loss of the power.
Today Lübeck is the second largest city in Schleswig-Holstein.

To do: Lübeck laws[?]