LÜBECK Queen of the Hanseatic League

6  days | Coming soon! | 23 - 28 September 2027

Queen of the Hanseatic League

A 12th-century gem boasting more than 1,000 historical buildings, Lübeck’s appearance is an enduring reminder of its glorious mercantile past and its moniker of ‘Queen of the Hanse’. Founded in 1143 as the first western city on the Baltic Sea coast, this illustrious early seat of global trade represents a shining example of the character of the Hanseatic towns in the Baltic region. Behind its landmark Holstentor gate lie courtyards and alleys lined with merchants’ homes and spired churches forming Lübeck’s ‘crown’. The magnificent church of St Mary, considered the mother of all brick Gothic architecture, forms a superb ensemble with the myriad architectural styles that surround it, ranging from Gothic to Renaissance and Baroque to classical. This historic island town was granted its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, the first time that an entire Old Town in Northern Europe ever received such an accolade, and encompasses the Town Hall complex; the Koberg – a completely preserved quarter of patrician houses from the 15th and 16th centuries overseen by St. Jacob’s Church and Hospital of the Holy Spirit – and the salt warehouses on the left bank of the River Trave, used to store the ‘White Gold’ which underpinned Lübeck’s vast wealth. This study tour uncovers the history of this crucial trading hub through exploration of its historic buildings and world-class art collections, as well as by visiting some of the lesser-known surrounding towns which played a vital role in the success of this erstwhile rich and mighty centre.

Day to day Itinerary

Day 1

Fly from London to Hamburg. Coach transfer from Hamburg to Lübeck, stopping off en route in Ahrensburg, home to a magnificent Renaissance castle. Continue to our hotel in Lübeck.

Day 2

A day in Lübeck on foot and by boat. Explore the enchanting corners and winding alleyways of the town while catching a first glimpse at the myriad architectural styles that punctuate its skyline. A visit to the Holstentor – since the 1470s, it has been a symbol of Lübeck and testament to the success of its mercantile class. Its walls enclose a museum, which will introduce the history of Lübeck and its rise to become a leading centre in the Hanseatic League. Known as the city of the seven spires, Lübeck is home to the finest examples of Brick Gothic architecture in Northern Germany. The three-naved cathedral is one of the oldest monuments in Lübeck, its foundations laid by Henry the Lion, and today houses numerous works of art, such as the gigantic Triumphal Cross by Renaissance sculptor Bernt Notke. The European Hanseatic Museum incorporates a mediaeval castle frairy, an archaeological excavation site and modern museum complex to tell the story of the rise and fall of the Hanse.

Day 3

By coach from Lübeck to Ratzeburg, known as an island town due to its position amid four surrounding lakes, where Henry the Lion established a bishopric in 1154 and founded the late Romanesque cathedral, the oldest of its kind in northern Germany. Ratzeburg is also the setting of a fascinating chapter in modern art, being home to the studio of A. Paul Weber, whose drawings, paintings, woodcuts and lithographs hold a mirror to Germany’s early 20th-century history, from the delightful to the disturbing. An equally compelling museum displaying the moving works of Expressionist sculptor Ernst Barlach is another of the town’s artistic highlights. Return to Lübeck by boat along the Wakenitz River, which divided post-war Germany until 1989.

Day 4

A second day on foot in Lübeck will explore the town’s excellent art collections, from mediaeval to modern. The Behnhouse/Drägerhouse Museum combines a significant collection of paintings from the 19th century and the classical modern period with a historic setting, located in two 18th-century palatial houses. The collection housed in the two buildings focuses primarily on art from the Age of Romanticism and includes works by Caspar David Friedrich and the Lübeck-born Johann Friedrich Overbeck, leader of the Nazarene painters. These works are juxtaposed with the collection of modern art, with paintings by Max Liebermann, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Edvard Munch, who was active in Lübeck during the first decade of the 20th century. By contrast, the St Anne’s Museum Quarter holds Germany’s largest collection of mediaeval sculpture and altarpieces, including the significant Passion Polyptych by Hans Memling, contained within a historical priory compromising courtyards, gardens and a Late Gothic cloister.

Hotel Atlantic

The Atlantic Hotel Lübeck is a modern hotel offering spacious rooms and first-class service in the heart of the historic town. It features a restaurant with regional cuisine, a unique Roof Lounge with panoramic views over the city’s seven towers. 

With Flights:   TBC

Join Direct:   TBC

Single Supp:   TBC

Deposit: TBC

Departure Dates:

23 - 28 September 2027

Duration:

5 nights / 6 days

Your Holiday Includes:

• Return flights (Economy class) from London to Budapest
• Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the Hotel Atlantic
• Private coach transfers and excursions
• Two evening meals and one lunch
• Guided visits to the sites and monuments listed in the programme
• Services of the tour lecturer and a tour manager
• Detailed programme and study notes
• All entrance fees, taxes, and gratuities for coach drivers and serving staff
  

Tour Lecturers

Travel Information

The price does not include extras at the hotels or travel insurance.

Please note that Art Pursuits use hotels of character featuring a variety of rooms & styles.

Stamina

Please note that most of our tours involve a large amount of walking, across uneven ground and often without the opportunity to sit down for at least half an hour. We ask that clients inform us if they have difficulties before booking to avoid any issues whilst on tour.