The weather changed completely after we stopped for lunch, with the sun coming out and the temperatures rising. We had made a plan to visit the Europäisches Hansemuseum, but spotted some more interesting buildings as we walked around.
Before entering the museum, we took advantage of the weather and the viewpoint to look out over the port area. What this must have been like in the past we can only imagine.
Anyway, the building is next to the Castle Friary, built by Dominican friars on the ruins of a fortress during the 13th century. Between 1893 and 1896 part of the friary were demolished to make way for a law court and prison. The entrance ticket also lets you go to these older buildings. This outer wall shows where the older building stood. The colours look positively Mediterranean.
So to the museum, which I have to say was one of the best I have been to in ages, with just the right balance between high tech and allowing you to just look, read and think. I’m not sure if all readers are either familiar with or know much about what is called in English, the Hanseatic League, but simply put, it was a trading network across the Baltic Sea and beyond, that had Lübeck as a central city. Some other places associated with the Hansa are Visby on Gotland, Riga and Gdansk. You can always check Wikipedia!
Anyway, the ticket is also a key to the information in the museum – hold it up at certain points to a reader and you got extra information. The good thing was though you didn’t have to do that if you didn’t want to. Before going into the information space, you have the opportunity to personalise your experience by picking your language (German, English, Swedish or Russian) and then one of 50 European towns and a topic to focus on. I picked Great Britain then Edinburgh, which was where I was born and bred, but looking back it would have been more interesting to pick a city that was actually part of the Hansa, as Edinburgh was really just a satellite port (and yes for Scottish readers it should have been Leith technically…). Karl was able to pick Swedish and his home town of Kalmar which had connections to the Hansa.
The museum takes you through the origins, the early days, power struggles, everyday life, the plague and the rise of Lübeck itself. It was a perfect blend of exhibition, information and documentation. I highly recommend it as a place to go and would happily go back. We finished the visit with the friary (where I found two more faces) and the nineteenth century court room.
When we came out, we were in need of a long, cold beer, so walked around until we found somewhere to sit and enjoy a moment before catching the train back.
So you can see the contrast in weather, to the morning, here is the Holstentor again in the sunshine. Thanks to Wanderlustig for reminding us of Buddenbrook House which I checked will be closed for a few more years. Maybe the next time we visit? One never knows…
We had a bit of a wait for the train, but then on the journey I saw two storks! My first time ever! What could be a better end to the day’s adventure. The first set of postcards can be found here.
Thistles and Kiwis is a Wellington, New Zealand based blog written by Barbara, who likes cats, summer and good food. Thistles and Kiwis can be found on Facebook and Instagram @thistlesandkiwis
Thistles and Kiwis 
That sounds like a really good museum. I like the idea of being able to access different levels of information. (And everywhere looks better with a little bit of sunshine!)
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It really was – as interactive as you wanted to make it. So well laid out too.
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This looks like a great place to visit. I love a good museum and old buildings. I love seeing storks. Here in Spain they build nests on top of old church spires! I was so excited the first time I saw that.
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Definitely a great place to visit. I would be excited too to see storks on a chimney!
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Lubeck isn’t a destination I would necessarily have gone for, Barbara, but that does sound like an excellent museum. I know a bit about the Hanseatic League (and Gdansk, of course!) but I didn’t know that you were born and raised in Edinburgh. Hope you’re having a lovely Easter weekend xx
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It is a place well worth going to, so full of history that had an impact on the whole region.
Yes I am from Edinburgh originally, though neither of my parents were Scottish, so no family ties there. Dad as you know was Polish and mum English.
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What a day! A wonderful museum with just the right amount of interaction. And two storks. That would have made my day. And that blue, blue sky!
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It was such a fabulous day trip. So much to see and an excellent museum. The storks just added something.
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What an excellent museum. And all that and two storks too.
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The museum was so good -very well done. The storks were the cherry on top!
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Beautiful photos and sounds like a great museum. When I visited Bergen in Norway, I learned that it is also a Hanseatic trading town. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
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Yes Bergen was a major Hanseatic port. Thanks Natalie – it was a great day.
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Am smiling as I was born in Tallinn which is also very much a Hanseatic city 🙂 ! And there is ‘something’ about your photos which feels very comfortably ‘home-like’ – some of them truly look as if they had come from there! History!
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😀 Yes there is a comfort in being here, a sort of familiarity. I have been to Tallinn twice – loved it.
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Wonderful museum and wow, storks!! Lovely to see that blue sky too.
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It was such an interesting day – so worth going.
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The architecture there certainly encourages one to look up!
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It really does!
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Sounds like a wonderful day, with those bright, blue skies making it even better. Lovely photos too. I didn’t know you were from Edinburgh; a lovely city. TheTravelsketcher and I have visited several times, him more than me since he went there frequently on business.
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It was a fantastic day trip – so glad we made it – it had been on our list but with curtailed time plus weekend work on the rail line to Lubeck, we weren’t sure we would make it. Ah yes – from Edinburgh orginally!
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It really sounds like you had a great time! I can hear the wings of history walking through those blocks of old buildings!
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Oh yes! History all around!
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What a great second half to the day. If we went to that museum it would end up being a whole day affair because Glen would be reading and listening to every piece of information while I would be selective and end up enjoying a coffee in the cafe while I waited. Isn’t it nice when the weather clears to a beautiful day.
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