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Stretching roughly 300km north and south from northern Germany's main city of Hamburg is the Erika Highway, also known as “The Northern Romantic Route.” This charming area intersects medieval towns and magnificent stretches of nature. The Erika Highway connects ten northern German cities, including Hamburg, Lubeck - “The Hanseatic Queen” - and the trade show city of Hanover, and Luneberg heather, or “erika” is the name of the lovely purple flower that lines the highway in Luneburger Heide area between September and August. If visiting in summer, make sure to have a stroll on the plateaus where the Erika is in full bloom. Many member-cities that prospered under the Hanseatic League during the 13th through the 17th Centuries can be found along the highway, and wonderful buildings from that era can still be found today. Movement between Lubeck, Hanover and other major cities is only possible via rail. Hamburg to Hanover takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes via German Inner City Express (ICE) high-speed rail. Smaller towns can be accessed via local lines or by bus transfer. ＜Erika Highway Tourist Information Centers＞ Hannover Access Ernest August Platz 2 TEL 0511-16849700 Closed Sundays Luneberg Access Am Markt/Rathaus TEL 04131-2076620 Through the ages, Lubeck, also known as “The Hanseatic Queen”, has been actively involved in commerce. The old city is abundant with historical hot spots such as the homes of wealthy merchants who prospered thanks to Baltic Sea trade, a gorgeous city hall, and the Holstentor, or Holstein Gate. Access Holstentorplatz TEL 0451-1224129 Open 10:00〜17:00 （Oct - Mar until 16:00、Saturdays & Sundays until 17:00） Closed Mondays Admission 4Euro The eye-grabbing, round towers of the Holstein Gate exist as a symbol of the city. In front of the gate, a building that still exists today was used as a salt warehouse. Access Schusselbuden 13 TEL 0451-397724 Open Church / 10:00〜16:00 Spire / Mar through Dec and Jan - 9:00〜19:00 Church closed on Mondays, Spire closed Dec 21 - February Admission 2Euro This particularly eye-catching church features a brown exterior and two high Gothic spires. An elevator can be taken to the top of the spires for a breathtaking view of Lubeck. Lying at the southern end of the Erika Highway, Hanover is home to the Hanover Messe convention center and CeBIT, the world’s largest international trade show for information and telecommunication technologies held every spring. Hanover features an array of museums and artists, and modern art sculptures can be seen throughout the city. Red lines on the roads lead to the city's main tourist areas.