Winsen (Luhe) (German pronunciation: [ˌvɪnzn̩ ˈluːə] ) is the capital of the district of Harburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the small river Luhe, near its confluence with the Elbe, approx. 25 km southeast of Hamburg, and 20 km northwest of Lüneburg.
Market street with the Church of Saint Mary
Lüneburg, officially the Hanseatic City of Lüneburg and also known in English as Lunenburg, is a town in the German state of Lower Saxony. It is located about 50 km (31 mi) southeast of another Hanseatic city, Hamburg, and belongs to that city's wider metropolitan region. The capital of the district which bears its name, it is home to roughly 77,000 people. Lüneburg's urban area, which includes the surrounding communities of Adendorf, Bardowick, Barendorf and Reppenstedt, has a population of around 103,000. Lüneburg has been allowed to use the title "Hansestadt" in its name since 2007, in recognition of its membership in the former Hanseatic League. Lüneburg is also home to Leuphana University.
Panorama of Lüneburg from the water tower, with St. Johannis Church in the foreground to the right
View from the Kalkberg towards the east, with all three main churches
View from the Brausebrücke bridge
Miniature of Lüneburg in the Sächsische Weltchronik, 13th century