The Foundation Council of 7Türme+

Ralf Nagel – Chair of the Foundation Council

1. What personal connection do you have with Lübeck and the Seven Steeples?
I first got to know Lübeck in 2003 during the National Maritime Conference, when I was serving as State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Transport, and I was deeply impressed. Since 2017, thanks to a fortunate career move made by my wife Silke, my family and I have been living in this Hanseatic city. We feel very much at home here.
To me, the Seven Steeples are like the guiding lights leading into my home port. When I sit in one of the five UNESCO World Heritage churches, I feel the weight and richness of a long, eventful history—and I draw lessons from it for the present and the future. And when I attend one of the superb concerts held there, I’m transported—deeply and far away.
I want to help ensure that future generations can have those same experiences and that this cultural treasure is preserved for the world.

2. What professional experience do you bring to your work with the foundation?
From my 13 years as a State Secretary in both regional and federal ministries, my time as Senator for the Economy and Ports in Bremen, and over a decade as CEO of the German Shipowners’ Association, I bring extensive experience in coordinating complex projects, building networks, and providing strategic leadership.
I was able to contribute this expertise during the founding phase of the 7Türme+ Foundation on behalf of the Kirchenkreis (church district) Lübeck-Lauenburg. My role as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Joachim Ringelnatz Foundation in Cuxhaven also helps me support and shape the preservation of Lübeck’s World Heritage.

3. What do you hope to achieve as Chair of the Foundation Council?
Our aim is not only to preserve the cultural heritage of the Seven Spires as a UNESCO World Heritage Site but to ensure they remain vibrant spaces for art, music, science, exhibitions, and community encounters.
This is an enormous task, and we need a strong team with diverse experience and networks to lay the foundation for sustainable funding.
To that end, we must raise the foundation’s profile and increase its visibility and appeal, both within Lübeck and beyond, to inspire even more people about the heritage of these towers and churches.
The commitment of Lübeck’s own citizens is absolutely essential in this. Whenever we reach out to potential supporters, the first question they ask is always: “What is Lübeck itself doing to preserve its World Heritage treasure?”

4. What has impressed you most about the work done so far around the Seven Steeples?
I’m deeply impressed by the strong commitment shown by so many people, in so many different ways, to support the Seven Steeples and the five Old Town churches.
It’s a powerful sign of how deeply Lübeck’s World Heritage is embedded in the city's collective consciousness.
I’m proud to be part of this group of passionate individuals who care so deeply about the Seven Steeples.

5. Your favourite moment or view of the towers?
One of the most beautiful moments for me is seeing the towers bathed in evening light, defining Lübeck’s skyline.
I also love the unique atmosphere of the concerts held in the churches, when the space, the music, and the sense of togetherness combine in a truly special way.