A visit to the Lubeck Christmas Market

Finally, the glow of lights, the scent of mulled wine, roasted almonds and Christmas magic with decorated stalls, all kinds of handicrafts and many delicacies - after the last few years of privation, we were really looking forward to it. On November 26, we started this year's Christmas market driving season with many good-humored travel guests. The destination was none other than the "Queen of the Hanseatic League": Lübeck. With bus driver Susanna, who has been part of our coach driver team since the summer of this year, we set off from Lüchow at 09:00. The roads were clear and so we reached Lübeck around noon. On the large parking lot at the music and congress hall numerous coaches had already gathered. Susanna routinely chauffeured us through the hustle and bustle and found a place where we could get off.

Now everyone went his own way. Most of us went directly to the legendary Holstentor, the landmark of Lübeck. A special eye-catcher here were also the two Lübeck lions and a huge, beautifully decorated fir tree in the middle of a traffic island.

Now it was time to get an overview of the many sights of Lübeck, whose seven towers of the five main Gothic churches stood out from the November fog. Some took a ride on the big red double-decker bus through the city, others took a boat trip on the Trave River, and the very daring got on the "Splash Bus". This amphibious vehicle suddenly transforms from a bus into a ship, diving into the Trave with a huge "splash".

During the stroll across the old town island, Lübeck's most beautiful buildings could then be seen up close, such as the town hall with its large display wall, the spires and round holes in the decorative walls. These were probably intended to protect the façade from the strong winds in the far north - but no one really knows that anymore. On the town hall square, numerous stalls invited visitors to snack. Especially delicious: the Finnish punch! A cute reindeer greeted visitors from the roof of the mulled wine stand, and the entire Rathausplatz was illuminated by a net of lights - a wonderfully pretty sight.

Just across the street, the Niederegger House attracted countless visitors with its sweet marzipan dreams. Getting a seat in the café was a challenge. But not too many guests strayed into the marzipan museum. Here, visitors had the opportunity to marvel at the works of art made entirely of marzipan, free of charge.

Once outside again, we went through a small connecting passage to the Fairy Tale Christmas Market at St. Mary's Church, which brings the Grimm fairy tales to life with its showcases. Great fun for young and old. Right across the street: the Buddenbrookaus. Unfortunately, it was closed for renovation work, but it was a highlight to catch a glimpse of the pretty facade.

Afterwards, we went up high at the St. Jacobi church with its colorful Ferris wheel. Those who preferred to take it a little easier strolled through the arts and crafts market at the Heiligen Geist Hospital. Via Kleine Burgstraße, we passed a story-telling tree and reached the Hansa Museum. Here, visitors could embark on an exciting journey back in time to the world of the Hanseatic League and learn a lot about clothing production from the past to the present in the special exhibition "Guter Stoff" ("Good Cloth"). The viewing platform offered a romantic view of Lübeck's harbor in the evening with its lights. The platform itself was lovingly decorated with fairy lights and a large Christmas fir tree. Along the museum harbor we went to the Drehrückenplatz, where another small Christmas market recommended itself for a small rest, before we, on the meanwhile quite tired feet, walked back over the MuK bridge to the bus. Shortly before 6 p.m. the last guests reached the irro bus and so we could start our journey home on time. Bus driver Susanna guided us safely through the rush hour in Lübeck. Once we reached the freeway, the roads were clear again and we made straight for the Wendland region and Salzwedel, where the last guests disembarked at around 9:30 pm.

This trip to the Lübeck Christmas market was a great start to the Advent season and we look forward to many more Christmas market tours this year!