The Hanseatic City of Lübeck

Lübeck, the Queen of the Hanseatic League, was founded in 1143 as the "first western city on the Baltic coast". Surrounded by water on all sides, the old town has a historic centre dominated by seven church steeples. It was inscribed on the World Heritage list because of its superb brick Gothic architecture. The remarkable Holstein Gate is the defining feature of the Lübeck skyline. Built between 1464 and 1478 with walls which are 3.5m thick in places, it is one of the best-known and best-preserved town gates from the late Middle Ages. The archaeological riches found beneath Lübeck old town provide researchers with an important insight into medieval town life.