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Monument · Lübeck, Schleswig-Holstein
Holstentor
The brick gate with two round towers, dating from 1478, is Lübeck's symbol. Inside it houses a museum about the city and the trade of the Hanseatic League.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Holstentor
The Holstentor is the gate that marked Lübeck's western entrance. Construction began in 1464 and finished in 1478, built of brick, with two round towers topped by conical roofs linked by a central block. On the city side, a Latin inscription recalls the importance of internal concord and peace with the outside for the life of the city.
The gate sank over time into the soft ground of the Trave's bank, which is why the towers appear slightly tilted. It underwent restorations in the 19th century, in the 1930s and, most recently, between 2005 and 2006.
Since 1950 the interior has housed a museum of the city's history, today called Museum Holstentor. The exhibition tells of Lübeck, the Hanseatic League and the power the city gained through trade, with models of ships, weapons and objects from the period.
Beside it, on the riverbank, are the Salzspeicher, six brick warehouses with gabled facades built between 1579 and 1745. They stored the salt that came from Lüneburg and was used to preserve the fish caught in the Baltic and in Norway. Today they are occupied by a shop, but the façade seen from the bridge is one of the city's best-known images.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From about 15 minutes to see the gate from the outside to around an hour including the museum.
Best time
Early in the morning, before the tour groups, or in the late afternoon when the light hits the brick from the side. The museum has reduced hours in winter: check before you go.
How to get there
The Holstentor lies between the central station (Lübeck Hauptbahnhof) and the old town, about a ten-minute walk from the station. Those arriving by train naturally pass it on the way to the Altstadt island.
Tip
For the photo with the two towers head-on, stand on the lawn outside the gate with your back to the station. To see the Salzspeicher, cross the bridge over the Trave and look back.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Holstentor
Can you go inside the Holstentor?
Yes. The interior houses the Museum Holstentor, about Lübeck's history and Hanseatic League trade. Admission is paid. Check the opening hours before you go, as they change with the season.
Why does the Holstentor look crooked?
The gate was built on soft ground near the river Trave and sank unevenly over the centuries. Restorations stabilized the structure, but the tilt remains visible.
What are the buildings next to the Holstentor?
They are the Salzspeicher, salt warehouses from the 16th to the 18th centuries. Lüneburg salt passed through them before heading to the Baltic ports. Today they house a shop and are mostly viewed from the outside.