The Lüneburger Heide is the most famous feature of the district of Lüneburg in Lower Saxony. The huge heathland area, Germany’s largest nature reserve, is a major regional tourism asset, accounting for more than five million visitor bednights per year. Lüneburg district has a population of around180 000. Engineering and vehicle manufacture, farming and food production are the main strands of the local economy. The town of Lüneburg, the district administrative centre, uses the title ‘Hansestadt’ in its name in recognition of its status as a member of the Medieval Hanseatic League in the era when it was a hub of the salt trade.