Zeughaus Lübeck, Renaissance armory near Lübeck Cathedral, Germany
Zeughaus Lübeck is an armory building with Dutch Renaissance architecture, constructed from red brick with sandstone ornaments and an elaborately designed entrance. The structure stands beside the Cathedral in the heart of the Old City and now houses the archives of the Hanseatic city.
Construction began in 1594 beside Lübeck Cathedral and the building initially functioned as a granary before being converted into a weapons storage facility. This change of use reflects the city's shifting needs during its prominence as a leading Hanseatic city.
The building shows how a trading city used and later transformed its defensive infrastructure. The brick structure with its sandstone ornaments tells of Lubeck's prosperity as a Hanseatic capital and the protection of its valuables.
The building is easily reached from the Cathedral and sits in the pedestrian-friendly Old City, where the area can be explored on foot. A visit fits well with exploring other nearby landmarks in the same quarter.
During the 1920s renovation, the building housed police offices, while the 1930s saw it contain Gestapo interrogation cells. This period reveals the difficult history concealed within its walls.
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