Luebeck: from "White Gold" to Marzipan

Another medieval Hanseatic town ...

... and yet another difficult choice of a photo to illustrate a variety of topics.

In this photo, taken in the Breite Strasse (Broad Street) of Luebeck's pedestrian zone, from left to right, are:
- the Town Hall;
- the easternmost end of the outbuildings of the Church of St Mary, topped by thin "turrets"; and
- a glimpse of the corner of one of the town's many marzipan outlets.


The Town Hall. In part, this dates back to 1230.

In 1356 the first meeting of the Hanseatic League took place here. The members' aim was nothing if not ambitous: the establishment of (and sole control over) a free trade zone in the Baltic Sea, and down the North Sea coast as far as the mouth of the Rhein. The system worked, and for two centuries the League members prospered and garnered enormous wealth.

Luebeck's source of unrivaled wealth and greatness was "white gold".

This was not today's white gold, but another mineral of vital importance as a preservative, particularly of meat and fish, one which enabled merchants to transport and trade in these commodities: salt. Its only source at the time were the saltpans of Lueneburg, conveniently owned by Luebeck merchants.
Luebeck merchants were thus sole supplier of this vital commodity.

In the mid sixteenth century 11,000 tons of salt per annum were being transported into Luebeck.


Church of St Mary. Built 1260-1350.

In Luebeck, as in many Hanseatic towns, the biggest and most opulent church was built at the expense of the merchants. The town already had a large cathedral; the merchants could demonstrate their power and wealth by simply building another church to dwarf it. St Mary's Church is Germany's third largest in Germany - its nave is 38 metres high, second only to that of Cologne cathedral - and is considered the most magnificent and finest of all the north German brick churches.

As in Stralsund, it is no coincidence that the Town Hall was immediately adjacent to the merchants' church.


Marzipan

For centuries marzipan was available in Luebeck only in apothecaries' shops, principally as a remedy for constipation and other ailments, but in 1714 grocers and confectioners were permitted to sell it as well. The product is considered a particular speciality of Luebeck; the town has several manufacturers.


Buddenbrooks

The Luebeck-born writer Thomas Mann's first novel was "Buddenbrooks", and it was principally this work that led to his being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1929. The novel - on themes similar to Galsworthy's "Forsyte Saga"- is set in Luebeck, and is part based on the history of Mann's own ancestors.

Thomas Mann's brother Heinrich was also a writer of high repute: the film "The Blue Angel" - which introduced Marlene Dietrich to a world audience - is based on one of his satirical novels.