Much of the old town has kept a medieval appearance with old buildings and narrow streets. At one time the town could only be entered via any of four town gates, of which today two remain, the well-known Holstentor (1478) and the Burgtor (1444).
The old town centre is dominated by seven church steeples. The oldest are the L�becker Dom (the city's cathedral) and the Marienkirche (Saint Mary's), both from the 13th and 14th centuries
