Comprehensive renovation of the German Salt Museum in Lüneburg planned!

Comprehensive renovation of the German Salt Museum in Lüneburg planned!

The German Salt Museum in Lüneburg is facing a big change. As nwzonline.de reports, a comprehensive renovation is pending, which not only aims to modernize the concept, but also includes accessibility and the integration of new exhibitions. However, this work is not scheduled to begin until 2027 at the earliest.

Lüneburg can look back on an illustrious history in the salt trade. In the Middle Ages the city was an important salt producer, which made it a large city with a population of 12,000 to 14,000 inhabitants. Valuable brine springs lie underground and were used to produce salt. Salt production, which, according to a document from King Otto I, originated in 956, not only brought prosperity but also led to a flourishing trading center.

A painful farewell

On September 12, 1980, the last salt works closed its doors due to high energy costs and structural problems. This termination led to voids in the subsoil, which sometimes led to ground subsidence and damage to historical buildings in the area. Industrial monument preservation has continued salt production on a modest scale today, and the museum offers visitors the opportunity to experience the old craft in a small pan.

The renovation of the Salt Museum will take place in two construction phases. The first phase includes the renovation of the boiling house and is estimated at 5.1 million euros, of which 4.5 million euros in funding has already been approved. The second phase, the extension and the renovation of outbuildings, is estimated to cost around 10 million euros. Despite these renovations, the museum will remain open to visitors next year.

Salt: A vital raw material

Salt is not only referred to as “white gold,” but is also a crucial raw material for the chemical industry. Lüneburg bears the title “Salt City” because it was the largest salt producer in Northern Europe until the end of the 16th century. The salt works in Lüneburg was considered the oldest and largest European industrial company of its time. The political and economic position of this city was of great importance until the closure of the salt works, especially in the association of Hanseatic cities.

The German Salt Museum commemorates this glorious time and not only shows the history of the salt works, but also addresses current topics, such as the role of salt in nutrition and global salt production. Interactive stations in the museum allow visitors to engage with the “white gold” in an entertaining way. The museum is described as “not dusty”, but as tangible and tangible, which represents a striking difference to some other institutions.

With this renovation, the museum will be ideally positioned to continue to bring visitors closer to the exciting history of Lüneburg and the importance of salt in the future. It remains to be hoped that construction work will progress quickly and that the public will soon be able to benefit from the innovations.