Discover Lauenburg: city walls, river and history

The Łeba flows through Lauenburg (Lębork) and is navigable here; medieval fortifications and a varied landscape give the town distinctive landmarks. Those wishing to explore its history and architecture will find different periods in a compact area: from medieval walls and towers to Neo-Gothic buildings and townhouses dating from around 1900.

Landscape and orientation

Lębork lies in the Łeba–Reda proglacial valley. The Kashubian Lake District forms its southern boundary, while the Żarnowiec Upland borders it to the north. Partly wooded slopes of moraine hills surround the city to the north and south; the terrain is strongly undulating. The Łeba River flows through Lębork. The city’s location on the international E28 road between Gdańsk and Szczecin is another useful reference point for navigating the road network. Here, E28 is also designated as Polish national road 6.

Medieval walls and towers

The well-preserved medieval city walls are a defining testament to the town’s fortification history. They were built from 1341 to around 1363 and were originally 1,220 metres long. Baszta Bluszczowa is a surviving corner tower. It forms part of the walls and was built around 1363, during construction of the town’s fortifications. The early history of the Teutonic castle is also tangible: part of the castle was already standing in 1363.

The reconstructed medieval towers No. 24 on ul. Derdowskiego and No. 27 on ul. Basztowa display, among other things, copies of medieval clothing and weapons, everyday objects, products from vanishing crafts, and artworks by local artists from earlier centuries. The towers are part of the medieval town fortifications. Alongside the walls, selected objects and artworks are another focus for visitors interested in the town’s history.

Architecture across the centuries

The former outer castle grounds contain three buildings from different periods: a mill from the 14th or 15th century, the so-called Miller’s House from the 19th century, and a salt storehouse from the 16th century. The town hall adds another chapter to the architectural history: it was built in 1900 in the Neo-Gothic style. Stained-glass windows in the grand council chamber depict the coats of arms of the local nobility.

The Church of Our Lady Queen of Poland (NMP Królowej Polski) is also Neo-Gothic. Dating from 1870, it was formerly Protestant. Townhouses on ul. Staromiejska and ul. M. Reja take you to the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries: they are designed in the eclectic or Art Nouveau style. Together, these buildings offer different starting points for an architecture-focused walk, although they do not all belong to the same period.

Museum and religious history

The Muzeum w Lęborku presents collections on the history of the town and region, early art, archaeology and ethnography. A 3D film about Lębork’s medieval defensive system complements these subjects. At the Sanktuarium św. Jakuba Apostoła, you can discover another facet of the town’s history: the church is a Gothic fortified church. It is thought to date from the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries; the year 1345 is also cited, but this is uncertain.

Routes through Lębork and a viewpoint

The Trasa średniowiecznego Lęborka is a walking route that begins at the intersection of ul. Staromiejska and ul. Skłodowskiej and continues along the medieval city walls. Check the current route before setting out. The Trasa Paula Nipkowa offers another way to find your bearings: in Lębork, it is marked by television-shaped plaques on buildings and at locations connected with Paul Nipkow. Small signs on posts and trees guide you from one plaque to the next.

The Lębork–Łeba section of the Pomorska Droga św. Jakuba begins at the Sanktuarium św. Jakuba Apostoła and connects the shrines of the Apostle in Lębork and Łeba. The Wieża Ciśnień also offers a viewpoint, with views of Lębork and the surrounding landscape. Check access details before visiting.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Dymnica, Bukowina, Lebork, Wicko, Roszczyce, Poraj, Żarnowska, Sarbsk, Łeba, Lędziechowo, Łebień.

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