Lübeck Cathedral

At the southern tip of Lübeck's old town island, between the Trave and the Mühlenteich pond, stands the city's oldest church. Lübeck Cathedral was founded by Henry the Lion in 1173, making it one of the duke's four "lion cathedrals". At almost 132 metres long it is one of the longest brick churches anywhere. While crowds gather at the Holstentor and St Mary's, it is usually much quieter here, even though one of the great works of late Gothic art in northern Germany hangs inside.

History: Romanesque, Gothic and a night of bombs

After the bishop's seat moved from Oldenburg in Holstein to Lübeck, Henry the Lion laid the foundation stone in 1173. The Romanesque basilica was consecrated in 1247, and around 1254 the "Paradise" porch was added to the north transept. From 1266 the church was turned into a Gothic hall church, and the new east choir was finished in 1341. You can still see the join: square, heavy piers in the west, slender round pillars in the choir.

In the night before Palm Sunday, 28–29 March 1942, a heavy air raid hit Lübeck. Fire spread from the neighbouring museum to the roof, the spires collapsed and the organ burned, but the triumphal cross and almost all the medieval altarpieces were saved. Rebuilding took decades and was only completed in 1982 with the reconstruction of the Paradise porch.

What to see

• Triumphal cross: The 17-metre cross by Lübeck artist Bernt Notke was raised in 1477, a gift of Bishop Albert II Krummendiek, whose figure appears at its foot.
• Rood screen and clock: Notke also carved the rood screen, which carries a church clock from 1628.
• Altarpieces: Several late medieval winged altars survive, including one from the early 15th century.
• Brass tomb slab: Bishop Heinrich II Bochholt, who built the Gothic choir, lies under an elaborate brass slab.
• Paradise porch and cloister: The Gothic north portal is worth seeing from outside; the cloister links the cathedral with the Museum of Nature and Environment.

Good to know

The two west towers are 114 metres high and part of the seven-spire skyline that makes Lübeck a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Their outer brick skin is coming loose, and the repairs are expected to take eight to ten years and cost over €23 million.

Opening hours (as of October 2026)

1 May to 30 September: Monday to Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sunday 11:30–16:00. 1 October to 30 April: daily 10:00–16:00. In July and August, Sundays only until 15:00 because of the organ summer concerts. No sightseeing during services and concerts. Group tours of the interior can be booked at least 14 days ahead (€5 per person, minimum €50).

Getting there

From the town hall it is a ten-minute walk south through the old town, from the main station just over 20 minutes.

Tripto tip

Allow 30 to 60 minutes. For the classic photo, walk to the east side of the Mühlenteich, where the towers are reflected in the water. During Advent, it makes a calm evening stroll after the Christmas market around the town hall.