My Europe: Hamburg - The River City (Germany, Part I)

Hello peeps!

This year I had an amazing time traveling in Europe and seeing some of the most beautiful cities it can offer. One of my stops was the gorgeous "river"-city of Hamburg, Germany, and I would like to share my experience with you by blogging a little bit about it and sharing pictures I took ;)

I can easily say that it is for sure one of the most exciting cities I have ever been to: it is joyful and bright during the day and as bright and beautiful during the night, and I can now understand why natives say that it is "the most beautiful city in the World" ;)

A little bit of facts: Hamburg is the 2nd largest city in Germany and the 6th largest city in the European Union. The city itself is a home to over 1.8 mln people, while the Hamburg Metropolitan Region has more than 5 mln people. Situated on the river Elbe, the port of Hamburg is the 2nd largest port in Europe (after the Port of Rotterdam) and 10th largest worldwide.

 

You'd be amazed to see how much the river Elbe has influenced the city and how basically almost everything there is centered around it.

 Speicherstadt - warehouse district

Hamburg has architecturally significant buildings in a wide range of styles and only a few skyscrapers. Churches are important landmarks, such as St. Nicholas's church. The skyline of Hamburg features the tall spires of the most important churches (Hauptkirchen): St. Michael's Church, St. Peter's Church, St. James's (St. Jacobi) and St. Catherine's Church covered with copper plates, and of course the Heinrich-Hertz-Turm, the radio and television tower (no longer publicly accessible).

The Gothic Revival Church of St. Nicholas (German: St.-Nikolai-Kirche) was formerly one of the 5 Lutheran Hauptkirchen (main churches) in Hamburg.

It is now in ruins, serving as a memorial and an important architectural landmark. The church was the tallest building in the world from 1874 to 1876 and is still the second-tallest building in Hamburg.

St. Michael's Church (German: Hauptkirche Sankt Michaelis), is one of Hamburg's 5 Lutheran main churches and the most famous church in the city.

It is dedicated to the Archangel Michael. A large bronze statue, standing above the portal of the church shows the archangel conquering the devil.
Offering 2,500 seats, the Michel is the largest church in Hamburg. The 132-meter high Baroque spire offers an excellent view over the city and the harbor, can be climbed, but there also is a lift.

St. Peter's Cathedral (German: Hauptkirche St. Petri) is on the site of many former cathedrals.

Built by order of Pope Leo X, it has been a Protestant cathedral since the Reformation and its congregation forms part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany.

The best known artworks in St Peter's are the lion-head door handles, located in the left wing of the west portal. However, the cathedral contains many additional works of art.

St. Catherine's Church (German: St. Katharinen) of Hamburg.

The base of its spire, dating from the 13th century, is the second oldest building preserved in the city, after the lighthouse on Neuwerk island.

It is situated on an island near what was formerly the southern boundary of the medieval city, opposite the historic harbor area on the Elbe river. It traditionally served as the church of the seamen.


The many streams, rivers and canals in Hamburg are crossed by over 2300 bridges, more than London, Amsterdam and Venice put together.

Europe's largest inner-city development (as of 2008), the Hafen City (1) . The plan includes designs by Rem Koolhaas and Renzo Piano. The Elbe Philharmonic Hall (2) (Elbphilharmonie), expected to be completed by 2015, will house concerts in a building on top of an old warehouse.

 

One of the spots I fell in love at first sight with is Blankenese area of Hamburg.
 Blankenese has a long history as a fishing village along the Elbe River. Blankenese is a former independent town, now a suburban quarter in the borough Altona in the western part of the city. It is located on right bank of the Elbe river.
Now it is a very expensive property area with cute little houses along narrow pedestrian streets.

And the stunner of the city - The Hamburg Rathaus.

It is the city hall of Hamburg. It is the seat of the government of Hamburg, located in the Altstadt quarter in the city center. Constructed from 1886 to 1897, the city hall still houses its original governmental functions with the office of the First Mayor of Hamburg and the meeting rooms for Hamburg's parliament and senate.

After the old city hall was destroyed in the great fire of 1842, it took almost 44 years to build a new one. On October 26, 1897 at the official opening ceremony the First Mayor Dr. Johannes Versmann received the key of the city hall.

The city hall has a total area of 17,000 m2 (182,986 sq ft). The tower is 112 meters (367 ft) high with 436 steps. The city hall has 647 rooms, six rooms more than Buckingham Palace, on a building area of 5,400 m2 (58,125 sq ft).
The balcony is surmounted by a mosaic of Hamburg's patron goddess Hammonia. The courtyard is decorated with a Hygieia fountain. Hygieia as the goddess of health in Greek mythology and its surrounding figures represents the power and pureness of the water. It was built in remembrance of the cholera epidemic in 1892, the former technical purpose was air cooling in the city hall.


Oh yeah, by the way,  when in Hamburg, do not forget to:
1. take a Ferry (just along the city line, or at least to the Blankenese area ;)
2. go up the St. Michael's Church
3. take the elevated train and
4. have fun pretending to be the Beatles ;)

 

All in all - have the best time you can - Hamburg definitely won't leave you unsatisfied! ;)

I would like to thank my dear friend Sarah and her family for making my Hamburg experience unforgettable by being the BEST tour guide EVER! Love you girl!
And Wikipedia, because I wouldn't know all the numbers and stuff, you know ;D

Thanks everyone and hope I made you wanna go to Hamburg ;)

xo K