Travemünde (German:[tʁaːvəˈmʏndə]ⓘ) is a borough of
Lübeck,
Germany, located at the mouth of the river
Trave in
Lübeck Bay. It began life as a fortress built by
Henry the Lion,
Duke of Saxony, in the 12th century to guard the mouth of the Trave, and the
Danes subsequently strengthened it. It became a town in 1317 and in 1329 passed into the possession of the free city of Lübeck, to which it has since belonged. Its
fortifications were demolished in 1807.[1]
The 19th century seaside resort was evoked by
Thomas Mann in Buddenbrooks. In Part II/5-12 the vacation of Antonie Buddenbrook is told, while in Part X/3 one summer of little Hanno. Travemünde is depicted by Mann as a place of freedom, happiness and – in the case of Antonie – love, in contrast with the problems of everyday life.