Lübeck school garden

A great miracle in a small way

The school garden is a place that connects people effortlessly. It needs no special effects; people come here simply because they love nature, peace, and greenery. Here you'll find those who enjoy strolling and those who prefer to settle down for a while with a book on a bench surrounded by greenery. Parents with their young children and school classes eager to learn about bees are among the visitors. Kindergarten groups come regularly, not only to admire native plants but also to plant their own small plot and learn how to nurture a seedling into a magnificent, mature plant. Those with green thumbs gather here to discuss the best way to plant, cultivate, and care for a particular rose variety, and many come whose passion is playing chess. Many also enjoy the delightful readings and concerts held in the warm evenings.

Peaceful yet right in the heart of things

What they all have in common is that they cherish a gem away from Lübeck's old town, a place whose visit has a calming and inspiring effect on the soul. Finding leisure away from everyday life, yet still being right in the heart of it all, listening to life – birdsong, the ringing of bells from the old town island, the startled cries of parents in the neighboring playground admonishing their little ones not to climb too high. The commands of the football coach drifting over from the adjacent sports field and those of the paddlers on the Wakenitz River. How precious are such moments of contemplation, belonging entirely to oneself, a hobby, or a chat with a loved one.

Cultural monument school garden

The school garden was developed starting in 1913, following several proposals from Lübeck's city gardeners at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries to create a place that would impart biological knowledge in a practical and natural way. During the First World War and later in the Second World War, vegetables were grown on the grounds to feed the starving. However, the teaching and demonstration garden was revived in 1949. In 2019, the Hanseatic City of Lübeck designated the site a cultural monument – ​​a crucial prerequisite for preserving the school garden as a place of learning and encounter for future generations. This vibrant green wonderland would not exist without the tireless dedication of the "Association for the Promotion of the Lübeck School Garden" and its volunteer members, the Green Circle Lübeck e.V., and without the financial project support from, among others, the Lübeck Charitable Savings Bank Foundation.

Sweet temptations in the coffee house

Luckily, you don't have to miss out on little treats. The coffee house in the school garden offers savory snacks and, of course, cakes and other goodies daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. From Friday to Sunday, you can enjoy breakfast in this green paradise – with vegan and vegetarian options available. For me, the Pasteis de Nata are unbeatable. They come remarkably close to the incomparable Pastéis de Belém from Lisbon. Pure egg and cream bliss on crispy puff pastry. So good!

Reading in nature

My personal favorite spot is the small octagonal garden shed by the wildflower meadow, which houses a gardening book exchange. It's comfortable to sit inside on the white bench, browsing and leafing through the pages, or outside on a garden chair you've brought with you. With a coffee in hand, reading in the glow of the setting sun and a view of one or another church steeple in the old town is twice as enjoyable. How wonderful it is to be carried away by the conviction that it's quite simple to feel yourself as part of nature.