“Another lecture in Gebaude 12?” someone sighs. But this building at Leuphana University has more to it than just classrooms. Gebaude 12 is one of the many buildings that make up today’s Leuphana University. The university’s location has a rich past.
Lüneburg itself is over 1000 years old. It thrived thanks to its salt deposits. Salt mining shaped much of Lüneburg’s history and economy. The city even became known as the ‘Salt House’ of the Hanseatic League in 1412.
But before universities and lecture halls, Lüneburg saw different times. In 956, a castle stood on Kalkberg, first mentioned as ‘Luniburc’. Over time, Lüneburg evolved into a powerful town, especially until 1600. Salt mining brought wealth.
After 1600, Lüneburg’s political power declined. Despite this, the city played a role in significant historical events. In 1813, Lüneburg was freed from French occupation under Napoleon. Johanna Stegen, a local heroine, aided Prussian troops.
Later, in 1847, Lüneburg connected to the railway network, marking the start of modern development. The city was named an administrative and juridical location in 1885.
The area around Gebaude 12 saw even more changes in the 20th century. The Scharnhorst barracks transformed into the Leuphana University campus in 1990. This conversion marked a new chapter for Lüneburg. The Audimax, a central university building designed by Daniel Libeskind, was inaugurated in 2017.
Even though Lüneburg largely escaped destruction during World War II, over 180 houses suffered from subsidence damage caused by salt mining in 1950. This subsidence was due to the extensive salt deposits under the old town, discovered in the 9th century. These deposits span 1.2 square kilometers.
As you walk through Gebaude 12, think about Lüneburg’s journey. From salt mining to a modern university, the city has transformed. Today, Lüneburg is a growing town with over 78,000 residents and almost 4 million tourists each year.