These days, we keep looking up at the sky. Our eyes are constantly drawn to the towers. What's happening up there? Are the climbers active? Will it rain? Are there possibly thunderstorms? Anyone planning a garden party knows these questions. Will the weather cooperate? Will the guests come? Is there enough space for everyone? Do we have enough seating, salads, and sparkling wine? What about the decorations?
We're celebrating a birthday, and what a birthday it is!
The cathedral turns 850 years old this year. Lübeck's oldest church – like all of Lübeck's houses of worship – is a gift to the city. It is open to everyone: the people of Lübeck, the tourists, and the visitors. This should be clearly visible, and that's why industrial climbers are currently attaching the large red bow to the north tower. This is unprecedented. It's a new experience for everyone involved, for the climbers and also for the people who made inflatable XXL bow
That's why we keep looking up at the sky. Wind and weather can't be planned. The wind conditions are different up at the top of the tower than down on the large cathedral meadow in front of the old cathedral walls. Will everything work out as we hope?
A celebration for the whole city
We have so much planned for the coming days and weeks. We're looking forward to over 50 concerts, guided tours, interactive events, church services, and lectures. Above all, we're excited about the opportunity to connect with everyone. Even during the preparations, we've experienced how strongly the people of Lübeck identify with their seven towers. When we first shared our birthday ideas with someone, suddenly so many wanted to participate.
A hotel owner has filmed a video for her guests, a tightrope walker and her team have designed a performance for us, the Hanseatic League is setting up its medieval camp in front of the cathedral , the former Federal President is coming to congratulate us, and so are two female bishops.
The Lübeck Theatre is participating, as are a toy shop, the youth building workshop, and the House of Cultures . The children from the Cathedral School have painted pictures, and the senior citizens are baking cakes in a competition. We want to celebrate in and around the cathedral. The cathedral meadow, this wonderful green oasis in the south of the old town island, will be transformed into something like a big garden party. There will be fantastic music on the stage every afternoon and especially in the evenings – with Lübeck bands, shanty choirs, children's choirs, and gospel choirs – music to listen to and sing along to.
We look forward to hosting everyone who comes.
For everyone who will be celebrating with us. With a pop-up bar and food trucks, a picnic, sparkling wine, and mineral water. We're looking forward to cozy evenings in deck chairs, a sea of lights, and a starry sky. Of course, we'll be keeping an eye on the heavens from time to time. Will the weather cooperate? Will the guests come? Have we planned for too much food or too little? This is the first time our community has ever held such a festival for the whole town. It's never happened before. That's why, despite all the questions, the anticipation is so immense.
Listen to the congratulations from the people of Lübeck for their cathedral.
In the coming days and weeks, the ribbon will be hanging on the north tower. An invitation to everyone: Come along! Celebrate with us! See what you can discover here beneath the towers, how young and vibrant Lübeck's oldest parish is. Experience for yourselves how wonderful it is to connect with people and share something unique.
We celebrate life
We're having a party. We're celebrating a birthday, whether it's drizzling in northern Germany or bathed in sunshine. We're looking forward to everything that's to come – and to everyone who's coming. Our eyes turn to the sky. How beautiful it is. We're celebrating that we can come together and celebrate. Thank God!
The gaze turns to the sky. How beautiful that is.
