Curiosities · records · sourced
Fun facts about Travemünde
Travemünde holds more records and curiosities than the beach lets on: Germany’s oldest surviving lighthouse, a beacon on a high-rise, and a past as a French town. Here are the most surprising fun facts – each with a source, no invented numbers.
Ten facts that surprise
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Germany’s oldest surviving lighthouse stands in Travemünde: built in 1539 by Dutch masons, 31 metres tall – a cultural monument since 1922.
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But it no longer shines The Old Lighthouse has been out of service since 1972. The reason: the neighbouring Maritim high-rise blocked the tower.
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The beacon now sits on a high-rise Since 1974 it has shone from the 119-metre Maritim building – with a focal height of 114.7 metres, the tallest building in Schleswig-Holstein.
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Travemünde was once France From 1811 to 1813 the town belonged to the French Empire under Napoleon.
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Its own town until 1913 Only then was Travemünde incorporated into Lübeck as a district – before that it was an independent town at the mouth of the Trave.
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The German Baltic’s second-oldest resort As early as 1802 Travemünde was recognised as a seaside resort – the second on the entire German Baltic coast.
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Travemünde Week began with a bottle of Rotspon In 1889 the Hamburg merchants Wentzel and Dröge raced off Travemünde – the winner got a bottle of Lübeck Rotspon. It grew into one of the largest sailing events in the world.
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A 110-year-old tall ship as a landmark The barque Passat was launched in 1911 and lies today as a museum ship on the Priwall – its masts rise about 56 metres.
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63 years of a casino From 1949 to 2012 a casino operated in Travemünde; today the building houses a hotel.
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Almost at sea level Travemünde sits on average just about 3 metres above sea level – though tides barely matter on the nearly tide-free Baltic.
Frequently asked questions
What makes Travemünde special?
Travemünde combines beach and seaside-resort tradition (since 1802) with maritime records: Germany’s oldest surviving lighthouse (1539), the museum ship Passat (1911) and the Skandinavienkai ferry port. Since 1913 it has been a district of Lübeck.
Why does the Old Lighthouse no longer shine?
Because the Maritim high-rise, completed in 1974, blocked the tower. The Old Lighthouse has been out of service since 1972; the beacon has sat on the high-rise ever since (focal height 114.7 m).
Is Travemünde home to Germany’s oldest lighthouse?
The Old Lighthouse of Travemünde (1539) is regarded as Germany’s oldest surviving lighthouse. As an active sea mark, however, it has been out of service since 1972.
Why was Travemünde once French?
From 1811 to 1813 Travemünde belonged to Napoleon’s French Empire. The “Fort Travemünde” was built at the estuary to enforce the Continental Blockade.
How did Travemünde Week start?
In 1889 the Hamburg merchants Wentzel and Dröge raced off Travemünde – the winner got a bottle of Lübeck Rotspon. It grew into one of the largest sailing events in the world.
