Editing Old Salt Route

{{short description|Medieval trade route in northern Europe}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
[[File:AlteSalzstrasse.png|thumb|Map: Old Salt Route]]
The '''Old Salt Route''' was a [[medieval]] trade route in [[Northern Germany]], one of the ancient network of [[Salt Road|salt roads]] which were used primarily for the transport of [[History of salt|salt]] and other staples. In Germany it was referred to as ''Alte Salzstraße''.

Salt was very valuable and essential at that time; it was sometimes referred to as "white gold." The vast majority of the salt transported on the road was produced from brine near [[Lüneburg]], a city in the northern central part of the country and then transported to [[Lübeck]], a major seaport on Germany's [[Baltic Sea]] coast.<ref name="Sell">{{cite web | url = http://www.lueneburger-salzstrasse.de/ | last = Sell | first = Nora | title = Die Alte Salzstraße – von Lüneburg nach Lübeck| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040902122345/http://www.lueneburger-salzstrasse.de/ | archive-date = September 2, 2004 | language = de}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Alte Salzstrasse Breitenfelde.jpg|thumb|Old Salt Route: historical pavement near [[Breitenfelde]]]]
Historians generally recognize the Old Salt Route as part of a much longer path, which functioned as an important connection between the northern and southern reaches of the country. One of the oldest documents that confirms [[Lüneburg]] and its role in refining and transporting salt dates from 956 A.D. According to that document, [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|King Otto I the Great]] granted the [[St. Michaelis, Lüneburg|St. Michaelis Monastery]] in Lüneburg the customs revenue from the [[Saltern|saltworks]]. Even at those early times, the city's wealth was based in large part on the salt found in the area.<ref name="Michaelis">{{Cite web |title=St. Michaelis Lüneburg. "St. Michaelis Lüneburg - die Bachkirche im Norden". |url=http://www.sankt-michaelis.de/allgemein/Allgemeines.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317055959/http://www.sankt-michaelis.de/allgemein/Allgemeines.html |archive-date=2009-03-17 |access-date=2009-04-21}} 2003.</ref> The Old Salt Route attained its peak of success between the 12th and the 16th century.<ref name="Sell"/>

The trade route led from [[Lüneburg]] northward to [[Lübeck]]. From that port city, most of the salt was shipped to numerous destinations that also lie on the [[Baltic Sea]], including [[Falsterbo]], which boasted a [[Scania Market]]. There it was used for the preservation of [[herring]], an immensely important food in the Middle Ages, as well as for other foods. The salt trade was a major reason for the power of Lübeck and the [[Hanseatic League]].<ref name="Pulsiano">{{Cite book |last1=Pulsiano |first1=Phillip |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d-XiZO8V4qUC&q=salt+scania+market+herring&pg=PA651 |title=Medieval Scandinavia |last2=Kirsten |first2=Wolf |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1993 |isbn=0-8240-4787-7 |page=651}}</ref>

==Transport of salt==

Horse-drawn carts brought the salt from Lüneburg to a crossing of the [[Elbe]] river at [[Artlenburg]] (near [[Lauenburg]]) and from there, via [[Mölln]], to Lübeck. For the most part, however, the historic trade route was composed of unsurfaced, sandy and often muddy roads through heathland, woods and small villages, making the transport of salt an arduous task. In addition, the route was somewhat dangerous, since the valuable cargo attracted thieves, bandits and marauders. The dangers faced by those who make the long trek and the fact that only relatively small quantities of the precious crystalline substance could be carried in any single journey, made moving salt via overland routes very expensive.<ref name="Sell"/><ref name="DHL">[http://www.dp-dhl.de/dp-dhl?skin=hi&check=no&lang=de_EN&xmlFile=2008569 DHL. “The Old Salt Road – Logistics networks today and yesterday”]</ref>

In 1398, though, the [[Stecknitz Canal]], one of the first manmade waterways in [[Europe]], was completed, making it possible to transport much more salt in a single shipment and to do so with much greater ease and safety. That change helped merchants satisfy the salt requirements of an ever-growing demand.<ref name="DHL"/> In the 16th century, for example, about 19,000&nbsp;tons of the product were carried from Lüneburg to Lübeck each year either by land or water. However, it still took about twenty days to complete each trip.<ref name="Sell"/>

==Tourism==

In modern times, a trip along the Salt Road promises a rich blend of nature and culture. The trip can be made on foot or on bicycle and part of the distance can also be enjoyed on a paddle-wheeled steamer. There are many fascinating sights along the old trade route. These points of interest include the historical towns Lüneburg, Mölln and Lübeck, which are highlighted by beautiful façades and little alleyways, and are a major attraction to visitors.<ref name="Sell"/>

===Bicycle route===

As a bicycle route, there are the options of a main and a scenic route. The shorter main route (95&nbsp;km) leads bicyclists through many picturesque little towns such as Lauenburg, [[Büchen]], Mölln and [[Krummsee]] and also passes by the [[Lüne Monastery]]. The scenic route is especially attractive for nature lovers. The {{convert|106|km|mi|adj=mid|abbr=off|-long}} path diverges from the main thoroughfare at Witzeeze, continues on through the [[Lauenburg Nature Park]] and rejoins the main route just before Lübeck.<ref name="sights">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sh-tourismus.de/en/8c35c55f-28ca-d321-f3ae-ec3c3ad1c8c1.html |title=Schleswig-Holstein. "Old Salt Street" |access-date=2009-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719083355/http://www.sh-tourismus.de/en/8c35c55f-28ca-d321-f3ae-ec3c3ad1c8c1.html |archive-date=2011-07-19 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Lüneburg Heath===
[[File:Lüneburger Heide 109.jpg|thumb|The Lüneburg Heath]]
{{Main|Lüneburg Heath}}

Once, the area around Lüneburg was covered in lush woodlands. But because the medieval salt works depended on wood as a fuel used in boiling and purifying the saline water from which the salt was obtained, much of the forest was cut down. [[Calluna|Heather]] then covered area, helping it to become a landscape that now attracts thousands of visitors when that foliage is in full bloom.<ref name="Germany">{{Cite web |title=Old Salt Road – Ancient ''white gold'' trading route |url=http://www.cometogermany.com/ENU/about_germany/master_tlfstrasse-id1-fs2.htm |website=Germany National Tourist Board}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[German Salt Museum]]
* [[Lüneburg Saltworks]]
* [[Sülze Saltworks]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090410040817/http://www.lueneburg.de/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-358 Lüneburg’s Website]
* [http://www.alte-salzstrasse.de  Network Old Salt Street] – has English and German content.
* [http://www.monumente-online.de/07/01/leitartikel/01_Salzstrasse.php?seite=1 20.000 tons of white gold] – German article

{{Coord missing|Germany}}

{{Trade route 2}}
{{Salt topics}}
{{Portal bar|Food}}
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[[Category:Geography of Schleswig-Holstein]]
[[Category:German tourist routes]]
[[Category:Hanseatic League]]
[[Category:History of Lübeck]]
[[Category:Trade routes]]
[[Category:Medieval economic history]]
[[Category:Roads in Schleswig-Holstein]]
[[Category:Cycle paths in Schleswig-Holstein]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Schleswig-Holstein]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Lower Saxony]]
[[Category:History of salt]]
[[Category:Otto the Great]]