Map of Germany showing Lüneburg

Lüneburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, about 50km southeast of Hamburg. It is the capital of the district of Lüneburg. Population: 70,614 (2003).

In medieval times the town was remarkably rich due to the salt trade. There were several salterns surrounding the town. The salt was exported to the neighbouring fiefs. Along the Old Salt Route it was transported via Lauenburg to Lübeck and from there shipped to all the Baltic coasts. Lüneburg for a long time was the capital of the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg; the town and its salt were major factors of power and wealth of the Hanseatic League.

Lüneburg was first mentioned in 956. After a long time of prosperity its importance declined after 1600. The saline was closed in 1980, and the mining of salt was eventually stopped after a thousand years. The town gained new relevance by its university, which was founded in 1989. The deforestation of the surrounding area for the salt production created the unique landscape of the Lüneburg Heath.

The Ilmenau River, a tributary of the Elbe, flows through Lüneburg.

External links

• Official Website (in German)
• Webcam of downtown Lüneburg
• University of Applied Sciences
• University of Lüneburg