Luckau in Brandenburg has been given the name of the “Pearl of Lower Lusatia” because its awfully beautiful, like a pearl. I’m inclined to agree and I think you will, too.
This part of East Germany has survived war (wars, really) dating as far back as the Thirty Years’ War, that started in 1618, and was once occupied by the Swedish. It survived the 2nd World War and many of its old sites still stand today.
Although, it was a fire back in 1644 that destroyed many of the medieval things within the 15th century Lutheran Church of St. Nicholas. It was fixed up in an ornate Baroque style that will impress you.
A few more Baroque buildings can be found along the Market Place and one thing’s for sure, they knew how to decorate with intricate little details. They’re all over by the 17th century Rathaus (Town Hall), so you can’t miss them!
If you rather look for the medieval, then you have to see the Roter Turm (Red Tower) that was once part of the town’s defense system (a Stadtmauer, if you will). They might have called it red because this massively tall tower is made of brick and has stood since the 13th/14th century. No big bad wolf could huff or puff and blow this tower down, could he? ;-)
The Hausmann Tower, with its chapel of St. George, has been around just and long. Although, it’s been used more for secular reasons since the Reformation.
Check out the old Monastery Prison. No, it wasn’t a prison to house monks who weren’t celibate or anything (ha-ha). It was a real working monastery from 1291 to 1546. It wasn’t used as a prison until almost 400 years later during the National Socialist time in the 1940’s when it housed political prisoners.
In 2008 the monastery opened a museum detailing the monastery and prison history.
What I also like about Luckau is that it’s got an Autobahn Church. A what? Really, I know I can be a jokester, but I’m not kidding. Luckau sits right along the A13 Autobahn and the village church in the municipality of Duben is known as the Autobahn Chapel.
Others might call it the Pearl of Lower Lusatia, but I just keep thinking of that church and say it’s Absolution Autobahn Style. ;-)
