Lüneburg

Town in Lower Saxony, Germany, on the River Ilmenau, 110 km/68 mi northeast of Hannover; population (2005 est) 71,800. Industries include chemicals, salt, paper, and ironworks. An inland port on the Elbe Lateral Canal began to operate in 1976. It is a health resort. It stands at the edge of Lüneburg Heath.

Lüneburg once belonged to the Hanseatic League, and was the capital of a former duchy. It has several fine old churches, a Gothic Rathaus (town hall), and Gothic, Renaissance, and baroque houses, and is one of the principal centres of North German brick-built architecture. The Museum of the Principality of Lüneburg, the Museum of East Prussia, the Salt Museum, and the Brewing Museum are here. There is a university.