Tom`s travels: Mölln, Ratzeburg & Lübeck (08/12/2018)

On this weekend we decided east from Hamburg and visit a few towns throughout the day. After taking the train from the main station we stopped in Mölln and started our visit to the small town. Located in the state of Schleswig-Holstein it is not so far from the border with the neighboring state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The area around is full of water and in fact, the town itself is surrounded by small pretty lakes, very popular in the summer for camp goers. After heading through the old town with its typical red brick houses, we reached the church of St Nicholas the central and only church. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries it presents a nice typical gothic structure. The interior held some medieval frescoes and baroque furnishings. Right outside the church, as well as throughout the town, there was a statue representing a peculiar character named Till Eulenspiegel. This 14th-century legendary trickster was known for exposing vices and provoking thought, and having lived the rest of his life here was honored accordingly by the town. Right in front of the church was the Am Markt, the town's main square, where a small Christmas market had been arranged, lifting up our spirits and giving the town a nicer flair to contrast the rainy weather. As we headed back through the town I stopped to buy a small magnet of the Eulenspiegel at the tourist office and then continued towards the train station where we took a train taking us in just a few minutes to the town of Ratzeburg. Also located in a watery area, it is surrounded by lakes on all sides but still connected by a small isthmus to the land. After walking from the train station across the isthmus we reached the old town and immediately headed to the northern end of the peninsula where the famous Cathedral is located. Founded during the 12th century under orders of Henry the Lion the large church still features its original northern brick Romanesque structure. The interior held furnishing from later periods such as a gothic winged altar, a beautiful renaissance pulpit, and some baroque altars. The nice 13th-century cloister was filled up with Christmas stalls which we gazed at while walking around. After the visit, we then headed through the old town and admired some nice typical brick buildings, including the baroque palace hosting the provincial museum. Then through the main square, we stopped to have a look at the church of St Peter which had a nice choir practicing some liturgical songs. After reaching the train station we then took a ride and arrived in the city of Lubeck not long after. As we headed towards the city center and past the Holstentor, we stopped to have a late lunch at an Italian chain called L'Osteria. There we had a large pizza and some drinks and relaxed for a little while enjoying the warmth of the restaurant. As the day turned to night, we then headed out once again and explored the center which we had already visited previously. In fact, I had decided to come here once more to see the incredible Christmas market set up around town, considered as one of the prettiest in the country. As we walked around I was not disappointed and marveled and the lights, decorations, and stalls filling the whole old town. We stopped at several spots, including the main area which was located in the central square. Then we reached the northern end of town where we entered the Hospital of the Holy Spirit, dating to the Gothic period. Entrance required buying a ticket, but was worth it as it featured a nice arts and crafts fair filling up all the rooms of the building. Arts and crafts stalls were set between the arched nave which featured some beautiful medieval frescoes. A long hallway then featured a set of small cubicles known as Kabäuschen, most probably used to host the large amount of ill the hospital once took care of. After seeing the market we then headed out and back through town reaching the train station from where we took our ride back home.