Two north German coastal cities, about an hour apart but quite different.

Lübeck, on the Baltic coast, the second largest city in Schleswig - Holstein, was the medieval capital of the powerful Hanseatic League, a trading confederation for over two centuries,1400 -1600, similar to the European Union today. One of the major trading ports of Germany, it is renowned for its brick Gothic architecture, recognised by UNESCO World Heritage listing in 1987.

.... the delicately crumbling past is the town's main draw - Lübeck's appeal lies as much in the side streets where houses lean at crazy angles as its architectural show stoppers." - Rough Guide

The Aldstadt, encircled by the River Trave was guarded by two fortress gates, Holstentor and Burgtor, still impressive today. We spent just two nights in this delightful city, strolling the compact Aldstadt and discovering superb churches with towering steeples, small cobbled streets, intriguing "gangs" or tiny lanes, a beautiful Rathous Markt with St Mary's Church nearby and a worthy history trade and charity. The waterfront with restored traditional sailing ships is a delight, as are the rows of fine merchants houses in Gothic brickwork.

Schwerin"Encircled by lakes and with a fairy-tale Schloss that goes straight to the head...." Rough Guide

This was our immediate impression of this delightful town in Germany's north which we visited for just an afternoon on our return from Luebeck to Berlin. Many features reminded us that although it had been part of East Germany, its history of culture, art, architecture and glamour went far back before that time. It is the capital of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania and is the smallest state capital in Germany. We made our way along the path on the shores of one small lake, Pfaffenteich, with views towards the Altstadt and continued past the impressive Gothic Dom to the town square and Rathous, admiring decorative buildings, cafes and some half timbered shops, but hastening towards the main focus, the Schloss, surrounded by a romantic Burggarten on an island in the Schwerin See. This was the home of the Dukes of Mecklenberg for centuries and the ornate additions, in the mid 19th C, an indulgence of one, Duke Friedrich Franz II, creating a fantasy palace built in Dutch Renaissance style with turrets, onion domes and towers, gilt decoration and set in a romantic 19th C garden with a wrought iron orangerie.

There is so much more to see in this picture perfect town surrounded by lakes and waterways. The museums and art galleries house worthy collections of Dutch and Flemish masters and have given the town a reputation for art and culture. There is far more to the castle and its extensive gardens. We never had a chance to see the large Schlossgarten, linked to the Burggarten around the castle by a causeway.

We would like to return one day.