Hi, my name is Pascal and I'm currently an intern on Barbara's team. She offered me the opportunity to try my hand at my first blog post, and of course I gladly accepted. As you've probably already read in the title, it's about beautiful picnic spots in Lübeck. So, I sat down at the computer and started writing. At least, that was the plan. But as I researched and wrote, I quickly realized that it wasn't as easy as I thought. That makes me all the happier to be able to present my first blog post to you now. I hope you enjoy reading it and have a sunny day.
7 towers – 7 tips
Summer is here, the sun is shining, it's warm, and the days are long. Perfect conditions for a picnic to recharge your batteries away from everyday life. Whether as a break during an excursion or a separately planned activity, whether alone, as a couple, with family, or with friends, however you choose to enjoy your picnic, all forms have one thing in common: they all thrive best in a suitable location. The Old Town has numerous spots in its immediate vicinity that offer ideal conditions for relaxing with beautiful views. To help you decide, I'd like to introduce you to seven such places. The order is not a ranking; I'm simply listing them clockwise around the Old Town island, starting from the Castle Gate.
City Park
You'll find the city park in the heart of the Gründerzeit-era villa district of St. Gertrud. It was laid out in 1897 by the city gardener Metaphius TA Langenbuch, who had a particular fondness for rare trees and shrubs. As a result, the city's parks and transportation department has a long tradition of planting rare trees and shrubs here. All of these rarities are clearly labeled. Today, you can find around 700 trees of 40 different species in the park. Some of these were even planted by Langenbuch himself. The sandy paths invite you to explore the park, its ponds, bridges, and meadows on foot.
When you feel like taking a break, find a nice spot on the grass. If you'd prefer to relax on a bench, that's no problem either, as there are plenty of benches at scenic spots throughout the park. Either way, you're sure to find a place to unwind. A separate off-leash dog area in the park makes picnicking an enjoyable experience for your four-legged friend as well. Depending on the season, you can admire a variety of flowers in the park.
Falkenwiese
Die Falkenwiese bietet dir wohl eines der umfangreichsten Angebote der Freizeitgestaltung. Ob du gemütlich auf einer Wiese liegen möchtest, eine Abkühlung in der Wakenitz suchst, den Spielplatz mit dem Kind unsicher machst, dir den hübsch angelegten Schulgarten anschaust – den wir hier im Blog bereits vorgestellt haben – oder aktiv auf dem Sport- und Freizeitareal bist. Hier findet sich definitiv etwas für dich und vielleicht kombinierst du einfach mehrere Dinge miteinander. Im Punkto schwimmen in der Wakenitz bietet dir die Falkenwiese sogar zwei Möglichkeiten.
Zum einen kannst du von der Wiese direkt in die Wakenitz springen. Zum anderen ist ein Besuch im Naturbad Falkenwiese möglich. Hier erwarten dich zusätzlich zur Liegewiese zwei Sprungbretter (1 und 3 Meter), eine Wasserrutsche, ein Nichtschwimmerbereich, Umkleidekabinen und Toiletten. Des Weiteren kannst du nach einem Besuch in dem seit 1899 bestehenden Naturbad behaupten, in einer der ältesten Badeanstalten Norddeutschlands gewesen zu sein. Preise und Öffnungszeiten findest du hier.
Drägerpark
Ähnlich umfangreich ist das Angebot im Drägerpark. Hier findest du zusätzlich zur Möglichkeit, von der Wiese in die Wakenitz zu springen, genau wie an der Falkenwiese ein Naturbad. Dieses besitzt sogar einen Sandstrand. Die Öffnungszeiten findest du hier. Zentral im Drägerpark liegt ein Spielplatz mit Wasserelementen für die Kleinen und für die Großen gibt es mehrere große Grünflächen, die zum Verweilen einladen. Den Park kannst du prima spazierend über die Sandwege entdecken, an denen du zur Erholung auch in regelmäßigen Abständen Bänke findest.
You might also find the nearby Gate of Hope, a listed residential complex, interesting, and of course, the unique panoramic view of Lübeck's Old Town. Thanks to its orientation, Drägerpark offers the perfect spot to watch the sun set behind the Old Town. With a bit of luck, you might even see hot air balloons taking off from the meadow in front of the Marli natural swimming pool, which is always an impressive experience for me.
Krähenteichwiese
A holiday feeling also prevails at Krähenteichwiese. Here you get the sense of being on a small, cozy island, as the Krähenteich pond lies on one side and the Trave river on the other. You can watch the sunrise over the Trave or the sunset over the old town and the Krähenteich pond. The green spaces here are relatively small compared to the parks, but this creates a unique charm.
Auf der Altstadtseite des Krähenteichs findest du das Altstadtbad Krähenteich, das ein ähnliches Angebot wie die Naturbäder Falkenwiese und Marli vorweisen kann. Für mehr Infos klicke hier. Wirklich cool finde ich die Möglichkeit, seine Grillasche auf der Krähenteichwiese in einer Art Kiste direkt entsorgen zu können. Für eine Abkühlung an der Krähenteichwiese nutze bitte den Krähenteich, da das Baden in der Trave verboten ist.
Kaisertor playground
Located right by the Kaisertor (Emperor's Gate) and at one of the southernmost points of Lübeck's green belt, within the city's ramparts, you'll find the Kaisertor playground. A visit to the playground can easily be combined with a stroll along the sandy paths by the Trave River through the ramparts. Since 1929, and thus for almost 100 years, this playground has offered children a place to romp and play. The Kaisertor playground is actually a water playground, but the pool was empty on my last two visits.
Even without the water feature, the playground offers plenty of opportunities for children. There are also grassy areas for picnic blankets and seating. The playground is completely fenced in, preventing children from easily wandering off. The trees surrounding the playground provide shade at all times of day, allowing you to avoid direct sunlight when needed.
Painter's Corner
A picturesque view of Lübeck's Old Town and its cathedral quarter awaits you at Malerwinkel (Painter's Corner). Here you can experience one of the most famous motifs for paintings and postcards. Malerwinkel became popular with photographers and painters in the 20th century. This is said to be due to the perspective of the Old Town, which makes St. Mary's Church appear to be further west than St. Peter's Church, even though it lies to the east. The wooden Dankwartsbrücke (Dankwarts Bridge) over the Trave River completes the scene.
Während du gemütlich deine Zeit auf der Grünfläche des Malerwinkels verbringst, kannst du bei gutem Wetter viele Personen mit ihren SUPs, Kanus oder Booten auf dem Wasser der Trave sehen. Wenn dich dann selbst die Lust packt und du dein Picknick auf das Wasser verlegen möchtest, könnte dich dein Weg zu BoatNow führen. Nur wenige Meter vom Malerwinkel entfernt kannst du dir hier ein Elektroboot mit gepolsterten Sitzmöglichkeiten und einem Tisch ausleihen.
Drehbrückenplatz
The newly redesigned Drehbrückenplatz (Swing Bridge Square) offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy the sunset reflected in the water. The long, wide concrete and wooden steps leading down to the water invite you to linger and are ideal for a picnic. There are also a few benches with backrests available. If you haven't brought anything for a picnic, the local kiosk "Fangfrisch" (Freshly Caught) or the occasional water kiosk "Treibgut" (Driftwood) can certainly help you out.
The square offers sunshine at any time of day. However, you won't find much shade on the steps. The little shade that is there is provided by a large poplar tree that has stood in this spot for decades. To cool off, you can sit down by the water and dangle your feet in it. Incidentally, there's also an accessible path leading down to the bottom step by the water. The Drehbrückenplatz (Swing Bridge Square) has quickly become a very popular spot in Lübeck. As a result, dance classes and other events are occasionally held there.
I hope this short list helps you find the perfect spot for your own personal picnic. Relaxation is important, especially for those who are stressed in their daily lives. So, treat yourself and slow down with a lovely picnic. To make your picnic even more relaxing, here are a few more tips. The ground can be damp even in good weather, so a proper picnic blanket that's waterproof and insulated is a good idea. If you don't have one and don't want to buy one, you can also put a large bag or something similar under your regular blanket. It's not just you who enjoys good weather and a snack, but insects too. Therefore, you should make sure to keep your picnic area clean, because word of a good spot spreads quickly among insects.
Generally, you should also make sure the area is clean after your picnic. Others want to enjoy themselves there, just like you. But enough reading and thinking about it. Grab everything you need for a picnic and head outside.