Lappan

The Lappan was originally an old people's and nursing home with a chapel for the poor, built in the middle of the 14th century. It was first mentioned as "Heiliggeist-Haus" in January 1351 and is thus considered the oldest building in Oldenburg. The Order of the Brothers of the Holy Spirit contributed significantly to the development of the hospital system. In 1467/68, the chapel was given the distinctive Gothic brick tower that still towers on the northern edge of the city centre in the direction of Lefferseck.

Oldenburg's first church tower

Because St Lambert's Church only had a low bell house at the time, the 35-metre-high tower of the Lappan is considered the city's first church tower. After the Reformation, the chapel was secularised and henceforth used as living quarters. At that time, Lappan was the name given to the outbuildings that were attached ("angelappt") to the main building. In 1909, the Lappan was restored, giving it its present appearance. Today, only the tower is still called the Lappan. The adjacent building has housed the town's tourist information office since 2018.