Just around the corner from my house, a little woodish area called Kalkberg, the cap rock of a salt dome, is nestled quite conveniently into Lüneburg's landscape. Until 1371, the Kalkberg (lime or gypsum hill) housed Lüneburg's castle, when angry citizens destroyed it due to their disenchantment with its inhabitants who ruled the Principality of Lüneburg-Brunswick from this location. Close by, the old St. Monastery, also no longer in existence, was located. Over the centuries, Lüneburg's population mined the hill for gypsum, a substance used for building construction I believe, causing the hill to shrink from about 80m to todays 56.3 above sea level. Today, the Kalkberg and its surrounding area are a nature reserve and provide charming opportunities for relaxing strolls close to the bustling downtown area.
The views of Lüneburg from its top are quite spectacular. On a sunny and clear day, the city skyline, with the spires of the city's three old churches (St. Johannis, St. Michaelis, and St. Nicolai) and the Wassertumr (water tower) as its highest points, is easliy admired and offers a great reward after climbing a set of stairs leading to the top.
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