Local Information

Hansestadt Lübeck (218000 inhabitants) is located in Germany, only 20 km away from the Baltic Sea with direct connection by the Trave delta. Lübeck was founded in the 12th century. In the Middle Ages, it became the leader of the Hanseatic League. Since 1987 the old part of Lübeck is included in the list of “Cultural and Historical Heritage of the World” by the UNESCO.

The city of Lübeck looks back on over 850 years of history. It was originally founded in 1143 by Earl Adolf II. von Schauenburg and newly founded in 1159 by Duke Heinrich dem Löwen after the town was destroyed by a great fire. In the Middle Ages, Lübeck developed to become the political and financial centre of Northern Europe due to its economically and geographically advantageous position. It became the leader of the Hanseatic League, a seafaring rights-and-trading alliance of over 200 towns. Lübecks influence is documented in its appearance which is dominated by five monumental churches, namely the Dom, St. Jakobi, St. Petri,St. Marien and St. Aegidien, all built from the 12th to the 14th century. Their seven steeples can still be seen today, climbing high above the brick Gothic buildings which form the shape of the Old Town nowadays. There are over 1000 protected historical buildings in Lübeck. The Old Town is completely surrounded by water and can conveniently be explored by feet. Not far from the conference venue, there lies the Holstentor, somehow the “entrance” to the Old Town. The centre of the town is the market place with the Town Hall, built in the 13th and 14th centuries. Other interesting sights are the Salzspeicher (salt lofts), the Schiffergesellschaft (assembly hall of sailors), the Heiligen-Geist-Hospital (former hospital for ill and old people), the Burgkloster (monastery belonging to the castle) and the Alte Seefahrtschule (former merchant navy training college). Apart from these famous historical buildings, there are a lot of narrow alleyways stretching from the front of the buildings and leading to romantic courtyards, giving the Old Town a very characteristic and charming appearance.

Accomodation

The university has special rates at some hotels. They are located near the city center and therefore a bit more distant to the campus itself. Booking codes can be obtained upon request from schuster at tcs.uni-luebeck.de.