Salzspeicher Lubeck, Germany

Salzspeicher

Neben dem Holstenstorplatz , Altstadt

Lubeck, Germany

phone: +49 451 889 9700

The Salzspeichers, or salt warehouses, stand right next to the Holstenbrücke bridge, forming a marked line of six former warehouses. They are the last remains of a type of trade which meant big business in Lübeck for centuries - the salt trade. Year by year countless wagon loads of salt travelled to Lübeck to be sold to Scandinavia and the Baltic countries from Lüneberg's salt works. Demand was giantic, since in a time when no artificial refrigeration existed, salt was vital for preserving the huge quantities of fish exported to all European countries. On its way from Lüneburg to north Europe, the salt was stored in the Salzspeichers by the Trave, and we can imagine the scale of salt trade by the fact that the warehouse complex had to be enlarged several times in 200 years. The oldest buildings date from 1558, while the last one was erected as late as 1745. In the 19th century, the Salzspeichers became obsolete, dilapidated and were close to being torn dow n. But in 1921, they were restored and Lübeck kept its landmarks. However, there was one victim - two of the old warehouses were badly mutilated when transformed into a clothing department store...