NATURE IN TOWN
If you need to take a breath in nature between your activities, Lüneburg has a few green spots that invite you to relax. Especially the Graduation House with its salty air is a recommended stop-by for those who seek for a healthy deep breath. Very close to the city center the Lime Mountain offers a nice few, the cosy Garden of the Town Hall is perfect for a quick break from the city action, the Chalkstone Lake is a close biotope to town for those who like to be close to the waterfront as well as the area along the Ilmenau river. And for all lovebirds the Liebesgrund (Liebe=Love) is a place to enjoy a wald hand-in-hand right behind the City wall. As you see, we are spoiled with nice spots!
01
LIEBESGRUND
Back in the day, Lüneburg depended on an efficient city fortification. Salt, the precious merchandise, always attracted enviers who wanted to conquer the city. At the end of the 13th century the people of Lüneburg thought it was time for an upgrade. Massive city gates and towers were incorporated into the existing defensive fortification. You can take a walk around the old rampart and the old city moat – also called 'Liebesgrund' by the locals – starting from Bardowicker Straße. In former times, city wall and rampart were divided into sections and were considered the responsibility of the craftsmen guilds. In case of defence they formed vigilante groups to protect their section.
After walking over the rampart or through the city moat don’t forget to walk back directly along Bardowicker wall. Some of the poor people’s houses, the so-called 'Buden', were preserved until today. The cling to the city wall like swallows nests.
Originally, the city wall was 7 metres in height. Built from gypsum, cobblestones and bricks one can still imagine how impressive the wall once was.
Liebesgrund
21335 Lüneburg
02
KURPARK & GRADIERWERK
Hopefully you are staying in Lüneburg for several days, so you will have enough time to take a stroll through the Kurpark. Generously designed lawns are ideal for sporting activities such as badminton, frisbee and jogging. Miniature golf and tennis are also popular - or take a relaxing bath in the sun. Even better – visit the graduation house and enjoy the healthy saliferous air, which is formed by the irrigation of brine over brush-wood. This bracing climate is beneficiary to the people of Lüneburg’s health since 1910. If you can’t travel to the North Sea, just grab a good book and enjoy this salty oasis.
The generous Kurpark was designed and built on 23 hectares in 1906. The architect Franz Krüger designed the bath house and health facilities as well as a pump- and reading room. He also supervised the construction of the new water tower in 1907.
The tennis courts were built in 1913. Bands provided musical entertainment. After the Second World War the British occupying power confiscated the building and the people of Lüneburg grew potatoes and other vegetables in the Kurpark. Today, during the summer months, the park houses concerts and open-air movie theatres.
Kurpark
Uelzener Straße 45
21335 Lüneburg
© Lüneburg Marketing GmbH
03
ILMENAU
In former times the Ilmenau was an important trading route. The white gold (salt) from Lüneburg was shipped to Lübeck and was traded with partners of the Hanseatic League within the Baltic Sea.
These days the area invites people to relax, take a walk or cycle along the former trading route and enjoy their time in nature.
If you want to take a walk, you can start your tour from the parking lot at 'Willy-Brand-Straße' and cross the street to ‘Amselbrücke’. From here you can start your walk.
If you want to enjoy the Ilmenau from the river perspective, you can rent a paddle boat, SUP or join a canoe tour. Check out the activities here.
Ilmenau
21335 Lüneburg
04
KALKBERG (LIME STONE MOUNTAIN)
The elevation in front of you is called Kalkberg (lime mountain), but the term 'Gipsberg' (gypsum mountain) would be more precise. Due to systematic gypsum mining for the production of grout, stucco and floor screed, the mountain’s circumference has shrank to about a sixteenth of its original size. In the beginning of the 20th century, the mountain became a nature conservation area and mining was discontinued.
If you have time, take the steps up to the hilltop. Halfway you will find an obelisk, a memorial to the garrison church, which was standing here until 1783. If you want to know more about the structure of the gypsum mountain or the local fauna and flora, we suggest a visit to the nature museum.
From the hilltop you will have a wonderful panoramic view over the city. Until 1371 a fortress was located here that gave the city its name: Hliuni castle. But you will not find any remains of the original complex. Only a single signal gun from 1829 is still standing on the hilltop, once used when a chained convict – who worked in the quarry – managed to escape.
The people of Lüneburg would love to have their castle back, guarding the city from a height of 80 metres. You can get an impression of what it was like when looking at the altar tablets in St. Nicholas church. The former 'Lüneburg' was built by Hermann von Billung in 956. It was later bequeathed on the Welfen. After the older Lüneburgian line of the Welfen was extinct, the city took advantage of the confusing inheritance settlement. The warlike disputes of the heirs enabled the Lüneburgians to conquer and destroy the castle with the help of a cunning scheme on Februrary 2, 1371. Two pieces of the booty, an elaborately crafted door and the oldest preserved foldable table from 1330, are on display in town hall and at the Lüneburg Museum.
On October 21 of the same year, Duke Magnus Torquatus and his soldiers conquered the city’s fortification to control the rebellious people of Lüneburg. But these weren’t easily duped. They handed over the keys to the city. While the duke with his men got drunk on Lüneburg’s wine and beer stock, the Lüneburgians rearmed themselves and re-conquered their city at the break of dawn.
Kalkberg
Schlöbckeweg
21335 Lüneburg
05
CHALKSTONE LAKE
Very close to the city center the chalkstone lake delights the citizens as a local recreation area and invites for a stroll. This special biotope is home to a variety of plants, birds and other animals. Bathing is not permitted. As its name says this area was used for industrial winning of resources. The production stopped in 1963 and until 1983 the area was still used for dumping reasons. Since then the area was led back into a natural habitat.
Kreidebergsee
21335 Lüneburg
06
BACKYARD OF THE TOWN HALL
The Garden of the Town Hall is a quick hide away in the middle of the city center. Here workers in town enjoy their take-aways and relax in the sun. The biggest attraction are the beautiful old magnolias during their blossom time. You won’t see anything more beautiful in this season!
Rathausgarten
Am Ochsenmarkt 1
21335 Lüneburg
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