In the sky above Lübeck

Today, for Lübeck's ZWISCHENZEILEN on a hot air balloon ride through the skies above Lübeck . The Hanseatic city is captivating not only for its historic cityscape. Nestled in a diverse landscape of forests, fields, meadows, and moors, and crisscrossed by waterways, Lübeck also cuts a remarkably fine figure from above.

Fortunately, this is the home base of one of the few hot air balloon companies in Northern Germany: Geo – Die Luftwerker (Geo – The Air Workers . Since 1994, the Air Workers have been offering excursions over Lübeck and the surrounding area. Balloon flights are possible on approximately 180 days of the year. On the ground, the Air Workers, led by Managing Director Robert Meyknecht , advise on the purchase of hot air balloons, assist with design and maintenance, and offer the only "aviation inspection" in Northern Germany. They are also active in the event industry. The materials used for their hot air balloons are also suitable for trade fair construction and advertising and have even been used in world-famous art projects. Do you remember Christo, who, among other things, wrapped the Reichstag in Berlin? That's right! Our Lübeck Air Workers were also in cahoots with Christo.

Admittedly, a hot air balloon ride isn't exactly a cheap thrill, but it's an unforgettable experience for the right occasion , like my friend's milestone birthday. On a golden spring evening in May, we cycled to the Geo headquarters at Hinter den Kirschkaten 10. There, we were greeted by Felix Dickenberger – our pilot for the evening. It quickly became clear that Felix is ​​passionate about his job. Even during his logistics studies in Hamburg, he had worked for the "aircraft company," before launching a career as a project manager for trade fair construction and art projects after graduation. In 2021, he worked with Christo on his final project, the wrapping of the Arc du Triomphe in Paris . He also earned his pilot's license on the side.

Lighter than air

After a brief introduction, we drove to Drägerpark. We were a small group of passengers, divided between two balloons. The entire evening program was scheduled to last about five hours. "Ballooning is a team sport," Felix explained, and showed us how we could help with the setup. Shortly afterward, we took our places in the basket. Above us hung the mighty balloon, and Felix released bursts of gas into its enormous body. Gently and seemingly weightlessly, we lifted off.

Below us, the meadow of Drägerpark melted away, and we quickly gained altitude. The evening sun broke through a bank of clouds. Beams of light wandered across the seven towers of the old town churches, and between the roofs of St. Gertrude's, the water shimmered like molten metal. The scene seemed to have come from a painting. We drifted silently southward, following the course of the Wakenitz River. A hot air balloon doesn't actually fly . Since, unlike an airplane, it doesn't have wings, and its weight is lighter than that of the surrounding air it displaces, it's called ballooning . Apart from the occasional release of gas, the balloon ride is completely silent, which intensifies the feeling of weightlessness.

A truly uplifting feeling. A mixture of peace, tranquility, and euphoria spread through me. We wore happy smiles on our faces, and our pilot was beaming too. Can one ever get tired of this job? Perhaps it was the reaction of his passengers that made Felix seem just as happy as we felt.

Slowly rotating, we continued our ascent until Lübeck spread out below us like a map. There was the old town island surrounded by water, the Wall peninsula, the Burgtor (castle gate), and the Holstentor (Holsten gate). The waters of the Wakenitz and Trave rivers appeared almost black in the soft evening light. The predominant color, however, was the lush spring green of the many parks. A shadow passed overhead as the second balloon overhead, briefly obscuring the setting sun. The terraced houses of St. Jürgen seemed as meticulously planned as a toy town. Between them stretched rows of tidy gardens, each one, I thought, providing a home for its own little family world.

We passed the last housing estates and glided over the meadows and fields south of the city. Organically curved tractor tracks in yellow rapeseed fields followed – interrupted only by green deciduous forests and bodies of water in which our hot air balloon was reflected.

"Freedom must be boundless above the clouds."

Reinhard Mey

What unique anecdotes might such a magical ascent conjure up? Felix recounted marriage proposals, but also parachute jumps and last wishes. He had already flown in balloons in Germany, Finland, Saudi Arabia, and Austria. The snow-covered Alps had captivated him. Nevertheless, Lübeck would always hold a special place in his heart. The combination of a picturesque, medieval old town with its rivers and the nearby Baltic Sea makes our Hanseatic city unique.

Due to our unpredictable Nordic weather, not every hot air balloon flight can take place as planned. There is no guarantee of a launch, and prospective balloonists must be flexible if a flight is delayed. Felix recommends that guests from out of town inquire spontaneously if the weather is good and, if necessary, pay "at the basket" if the flight can actually go ahead.

The landing

After about 90 minutes, our adventure came to an end. We landed in the last light of day in a field between Beidendorf and Krummesse. An amusing ritual followed , its roots harking back to the historical beginnings of ballooning. With champagne, a celebratory speech, and the presentation of certificates, we were summarily elevated to the nobility . As if that weren't enough, we were also jokingly granted ownership of the lands we had flown over.

Several stories surround this traditional balloon christening. The hot air balloon is the oldest aircraft in the world . In November 1783, the Montgolfier brothers launched their first "experimental balloon" over Paris. Not only the common people, but also the French King Louis XVI, were said to be so impressed by this sight that he promptly ennobled both the engineers and the two balloon pilots, Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François d'Arlandes. He also bequeathed them the territories they had flown over. This tradition has been maintained to this day.

Around 10 pm, we, the newly minted "sky aristocrats," drove home tired but extremely satisfied, grateful for an unforgettable experience.

Continue here

If you'd like to learn more about Geo – The Aerial Workers and hot air balloons, I recommend the HanseCast from April 19, 2024. In this episode, host Julius Bülow talks with our pilot Felix Dickenberger about his work at Geo – The Aerial Workers and his collaboration with Christo: The HanseCast – Felix Dickenberger (geo – The Aerial Workers) from The HanseCast (spotify.com)

If you book a balloon ride or a voucher , or learn more about the company, please visit the website of Geo – The Air Workers: Hot air balloons, hot airships, advertising banners and more: geo – The Air Workers

Want to see more? You can find amazing pictures from dizzying heights on the "Air Workers'" social media channels:
Facebook: geo – Die Luftwerker
Instagram: @geodieluftwerker

We had just passed the old town island when the Wakenitz River came into view, meandering through the beautiful green districts of Eichholz and St. Jürgen towards the city center. Thanks to this wild and romantic natural setting, Lübeck is incredibly livable even outside the historic city center.

South of the city limits, meadows, fields, forests, and extensive peat bogs stretch out. Lübeck's surroundings offer a wealth of excursion opportunities, some of which we describe here