Lübeck's Einsiedelstraße: From Hermit's Ferry to a Modern Urban Lifeline
Einsiedelstraße in Lübeck has transformed from a historic ferry landing into a bustling urban artery. The street stretches through St. Lorenz Nord, linking the Eric-Warburg Bridge with a mix of businesses, homes, and industrial sites. Its name traces back centuries to a hermit who once ran a streeteasy crossing on the Trave's northern bank.
The area's origins lie with a lone hermit who operated a ferry near today's street. Over time, a ferry house called Einsegel emerged, becoming a popular excursion spot. By the 18th century, the site gained prestige with the construction of Schlösschen Bellevue—a Rococo summer palace built in 1756 by Hieronymus Küsel. Its terraced gardens, tor houses, and ornate interiors reflected the era's feudal transition architecture.
The palace's purpose shifted in 1878 when a wood merchant repurposed it for industrial storage, leveraging its prime water and rail links. Today, the preserved core of Schlösschen Bellevue stands alongside modern venues like Kulturwerft Gollan at No. 6, which now hosts concerts and job fairs.
Einsiedelstraße has also retained traces of its industrial past. A former air-raid bunker remains on the grounds of the Lübeck Machine Works (LMG), a reminder of the street's layered history. Recent renovations have updated roadways and bridges, integrating the area into wider urban modernisation efforts.
Einsiedelstraße now balances its historical roots with contemporary demands. The street serves as a vital traffic route while housing a mix of commercial, residential, and cultural spaces. Its evolution—from a hermit's ferry to a dynamic city thoroughfare—continues to shape Lübeck's urban landscape.
