Remember Heinrich Schabbel. He was born in 1861 and died in 1904. Without him, the Schabbelhaus might not exist as we know it today.
We’re standing in front of the Schabbelhaus. This isn’t just one building. It is two townhouses joined together on Mengstrasse. Look around at the architecture of brick Renaissance style. Notice how it stands apart from some of its neighbors. The buildings here remarkably survived the 1942 bombing raids. Many areas nearby were destroyed.
Heinrich Schabbel made his fortune as a baker and confectioner. He invented the Hanseat. This treat made him very rich. Schabbel bequeathed 125,000 gold marks to Lubeck in his will. He wanted to create a museum. This museum would preserve Lubeck’s domestic culture. It would show homes from the late 17th to mid-19th centuries.
After Schabbel’s death, the city decided to buy a merchant house. This house was largely preserved at Mengstrasse 36.
Tragedy struck in 1905. A fire partially destroyed the patrician house. The blaze ruined the upper four floors. However, some parts survived. The carved paneling from 1595 by Tönnies Evers the Younger remained. The Renaissance building was restored. Furnishings came from other homes and churches. The museum opened in 1908. A popular wine bar opened on the ground floor of the Schabbelhaus.
More disaster occurred on Palm Sunday in 1942. British bombs destroyed the original Schabbelhaus at Mengstrasse 36. It was not rebuilt. Instead, the museum and wine bar moved to this location. The address is Mengstrasse 48/50.
This building’s architecture reflects changes. It was remodeled during the Baroque period. The gable hints at this era. However, the sandstone portal dates back to the Renaissance around 1590. The carved front door with a skylight shows Rokoko style.
Inside the Schabbelhaus, the entrance hall extends over two floors. It features a double staircase. Large windows open to the courtyard. The oldest part is wood paneling from 1595. It includes a Rococo wall cabinet. Other features like the kitchen and landscape room are from the 18th century.
The Schabbelhaus today is more than a restaurant. It is also a museum. It showcases upscale Hanseatic living from the late 18th century. The Kaufmannschaft zu Lubeck owns it. They use it for meetings twice a year. Harry Maasz designed the courtyard garden in the mid-20th century. The portal comes from Johann Glandorp’s former home. His house was destroyed.
Notably, the Verein Lubecker Kunstfreundinnen, or Association of Lubeck Art Lovers, founded in 1904, held its annual festival here. In 1911, they displayed new women’s fashion. Hedwig Buschmann showed off her designs.
Even Kurt Schwitters, the Dada artist, visited. The Museum of Modern Art has his altered menu from the Schabbelhaus.
Look closely. Friedrich Wilhelm Virck designed notgeld, or emergency money, for the Schabbelhaus in 1920 and 1921. This money was only valid here. The Schabbelhaus is a unique blend of history, art, and culture. It is a testament to Lubeck’s enduring spirit. Take a moment to appreciate its layers of stories.