ALTSTADT - THE OLD TOWN AND CITY CENTER
Steinstrasse towards St Jacobi and St Petri churches.
St Jacobi Kirche was destroyed during World War II, but was rebuilt in 1963 with a modern spire. It has its origins as a chapel from 1255.
Mönckebergstrasse, looking towards St Petri Kirche, that I planned to climb.
Elbphilarmonie Kulturcafé, nowadays known as Starbucks!
St Petri Kirche (St Peter's Church) from 1878 is the landmark of Mönckebergstrasse. It is 133m tall to the spire. It was built by Pope Leo the 10th. The current Gothic
church was built on top of several ruined churches from the past.
St Petri Kirche is the city's tallest remaining church (St Nikolai is taller but it is partly ruined). Between 2005 and 2007 huge H&M clothing store posters hung on 2 sides!
St Petri's steeple. 542 steps to climb and no elevator! Look at the aerial photos I took from there in the skyline section of World Travel Images.
The interior of St Petri.
The bells of St Petri, seen from inside the steeple while walking on narrow stairs towards the top.
RATHAUSMARKT:
Rathausmarkt (City Hall Market) is the square in front of the City Hall, just next to the lake Binnenalster. The famous Jungernstieg with its arcade is also here.
The Rathaus is from 1898 and has 647 rooms, 6 rooms more than Buckingham Palace, on a building area of 5 400 m2.
Rathausmarkt is also a major bus hub and a subway hub underground.
It has a whole underground system with stores, restaurant and U-bahn stations underneath it, one of Europe's largest of its kind.
An old tower and Fernsehturm (TV tower) seen from Rathausmarkt. Note the bike taxi.
The tower of the City Hall (Rathaus) is 112m tall.
Rathausmarkt towards St Petri and St Jacobi churches.
Rathausmarkt, St Petri kirche and the Highflyer balloon in the background.
This is where the Alsterfleet canal divides Altstadt from Neustadt, just across Rathausmarkt. Alsterfleet flows out to Binnenalster on the other side of the bridge.
On the Neustadt side is Alsterarkaden, the white building with an arcade supported by columns.
Alsterfleet with Alsterarkaden at sunset.
A local beer and curry sausage at Rathausmarkt at sunset.
NEUSTADT - THE NEW TOWN AND CITY CENTER
Neustadt (New Town) is the part of the city center that is situated northwest of Rathausmarkt. It is similar to Altstadt in its character, a mix of old and modern. Jungfernstieg, Colonnaden, Neuer Wall and Alsterarkaden are really exclusive addresses on this side.
Alsterarkaden is a nice arcade with exclusive shops and cafés. It is inspired by Venice. Alsterarkaden was built after the great fire in 1842.
Neuer Wall is a street, parallel to Alsterfleet canal, next to Rathausmarkt, with many exclusive brand stores. Some examples:
Binnenalster lake seen from Jungfernstieg.
Alsterhaus, Hamburg's premier department store, is located in a jugend building. It is located at the famous Jungfernstieg.’
Jungfernstieg is the exclusive street that goes parallel with the lake Binnenalster. Hamburger Hof is a grand building that hosts shopping arcade and hotel.
Colonnaden (The Colonnade), an exclusive pedestrian street that goes from Jungfernstieg to Planten und Blumen, with an arcade supported by pillars.
Stephansplatz.
Odd sculptures in Dammtorpark.
Casino Esplanade at Stephansplatz, next to the entrance to the park Planten und Blumen.
ALTSTADT/OLD TOWN - SOUTH PART:
This is about the south part of Altstadt (the Old Town). This is where the famous Chilehaus is and the ruins of St. Nikolai kirche. It is close to the popular harbour district. This is the most modern part of Altstadt, some buildings are very modern despite being the "old town". Hamburg's financial district is situated here.
The busy Ost-West-strasse seen from above with the ruins of St Nikolai to the left. It goes right through the financial district.
St. Nikolai Kirche (St Nicholas Church) is a Gothic Revival church that has been in ruins since the WWII bombings.
The church was the world's tallest building from 1874-76 and is still the tallest building in Hamburg.
It is 147m to the top of the spire. An elevator can take you to the observation deck on 75m height. However, it was closed when I was there.
A sculpture inside what was St Nikolai. Note the panorama elevator below the bells. It was possible to restore the nave after the bombings, but it was decided to
demolish it instead, that is why there is no roof!
Adolphsplatz in the financial district.
Handelskammer Hamburg is located behind the Rathaus, at Adolphsplatz.
Adolphsplatz with a modern glass highrise in the background.
A beautiful and unusual building with golden brick, gleaming in the sun!
Historic half-timbered houses at Nikolaifleet canal.
Nikolaifleet with Katharinenkirche, here under renovation.
Zentralbibliothek, the Municipal Library. Can you tell which humans are real?
Chilehaus, a famous jugend building and landmark of Hamburg. It was completed in 1924 and is remaining a ship from this angle.
Chilehaus was designed by the architect Fritz Höger. It was commissioned by the shipping magnate Henry B. Sloman, who made his fortune trading saltpeter from Chile,
hence the name Chile House.
Sprinkenhof next to Chilehaus (it has a similar architecture).
Sprinkenhof (left) seen from Zollkanal.
Galeria Kaufhof department store (middle) with the church towers in the background, seen from the busy Steintorwall.
Steinstrasse, the beginning of Altstadt.
Heinrich-Hertz-Turm, Hamburg's tallest structure, is 280m to the top of the antenna. It was built in 1968 and used to have a revolving rooftop restaurant, but it was
closed because of new fire regulations.
Radisson Blu Hotel (for long known as Hamburg Plaza) from 1972 is Hamburg's tallest and most wellknown skyscraper. It is 108m tall and has 32 floors. It is part of
the Hamburg Messe (fair and congress center).
The park has a huge variety of trees, plants, flowers.
The Japanese Gardens (Japanischer Garten):
The gate to the Japanese Garden.
Tea ceremonies are held summertime in its Japanese tea house.
An old Soviet style monument and a modern bike taxi at the entrance to Planten un Blomen. Casino Esplanade is in the background.
HAFENCITY:
HafenCity is the new area that has been developed recently in Hamburg's harbour, right next to the city center. Large shiny new office and residential buildings are built right by wide canals. Some office highrises have also been built in Hafencity. Much is now completed, but even more is planned for the future, like the new large concert hall. By 2015 the area will have 10 000 inhabitants and 15 000 workers. It is a nice place to stroll summertime.
Hafencity reminds a bit of American cities. A part of HafenCity is called Speicherstadt, where the canals flows through renovated warehouses (see the Speicherstadt section). Hamburg has more bridge inside its city limits then any other city, more then Amsterdam and Venice combined.
HafenCity: Columbus Haus and Elbphilharmonie (u/c), the concert hall that will be completed in 2012. River Elbe flows through Hamburg's harbour.
Columbus Haus at Hanseatic Trade Center was built in 2002. It has 23 floors.
St Nikolai and Katharinenkirche seen from Hafencity.
Am Sandtorkai reminds of a street in some American city.
Elbphilharmonie, finallly under construction after financial troubles. When completed in 2012 this striking new theater and concert hall will be 110 m tall. It consist of a s
triking steel structure built over an old warehouse. The architect firm is Herzog & de Meuron.
Sandtorhafen is a small boat harbour with modern residential buildings in rare shapes. It is a nice place to stroll and reminds a bit of cities like Vancouver.
Elbphilharmonie seen from Sandtorhafen.
Many buildings with unconventional architecture are located in the harbour.
A very cool building that plays music from classical concerts.
At Pavillon Elbphilharmonie you can hear the orchestra play different symphonies if you listen in the holes.
Marco Polo Terrassen at River Elbe.
The new Unilever highrise building is one of the most striking ones in the harbour. It has 17 floors. It has a light and futuristic atrium inside.
Am Sandtorkai: To the left are the renovated warehouses of Speicherstadt and to the right is the newly built residential and office blocks of HafenCity.
SPEICHERSTADT
Speicherstadt, located in HafenCity in the port of Hamburg, is the world's largest timber-pile founded warehouse district, built from 1883 to 1927. The district was built as a free zone to transfer goods without paying customs. Since 2009 the district a is under redevelopment and some of the warehouses have been transformed into trendy office and residential buildings. The area is reallyunique in its character and architecture and is filled with beautiful canals. The old warehouses contrast to the nearby modern office blocks in glass and steel. It is now a large tourist attraction with many museums.
Brooksfleet is one of 3 canals flowing through Speicherstadt.
Am Sandtorkai.
Altstadt seen from Speicherstadt's Zollkanal.
Seattle? Vancouver? Washington? No, Hamburg.
Überseequartier, u/c.
A mysterious building.
A beautiful renaisance building.
St Petri.
Maritimes Museum.
The warehouse architecture of Speicherstadt is really special.
ST. GEORG
St. Georg is the district to the east of Hauptbahnhof and Altstadt. Many upscale hotels and restaurants are located in St. Georg, as well as Berliner Tor,
where a modern highrise complex in glass is situated.
Deutsches Schauspielhaus is a theater founded in 1901.
Kirschenallee with hotels, the theater and the church Dreienigkeitskirche.
ZOB Bus-port. The futuristic bus station from 2003.
Taxis waiting in line next to Kirschgasse, at the Main Station. In the background is the sunset skyline with Heinrich Hertz Turm and Radisson Hotel.
BERLINER TOR:
Berliner Tor Center, a very large modern highrise complex with glass facades, adjacent to the Berliner Tor railway station.
The 2 glass towers (left and right) are the talllest and newest ones. They were built in 2004 and are 90m tall each, while the 83m tall highrise in the middle was built as
early as in 1962.
Skyline of Altstadt's historical towers from Berliner Tor.
AROUND HAUPTBAHNHOF, NEAR ALTSTADT:
This post is about the area around Hauptbahnhof (Main Railway Station) and Deichtorplatz, very close to Altstadt/city center.
Hauptbahnhof, the enormous Main Railway Station.
Hamburg's Hauptbahnhof has an impressive size. It was opened in 1906 to replace 4 terminal stations. It is 206m long, 136m wide and 37m high. The emperor Wilhelm
II changed the Art Nouveau style elements into Neo-Renaissance to give the station a fortification like character.
Since 2008, they have begun to play classical music in the station to keep drug dealers away. Unfortunately I don't think they have succeeded, a lot of drug addicts and
other disturbing people are hanging around, espeically after dark.
Note the crescent moon at the top of the station tower!
Hamburg Kunsthalle, a large and famous art museum. Its current building was completed in 1919. The taxis are there because it is situated just opposite the railway station.
A&O Hauptbahnhof, a budget hotel where I stayed. It was pretty noisy at night, but for 30-40 euro a night for a private room with TV, toilet and shower you can't really complain.
The window of my first room couldn't be closed and I was too tired to get down to the lobby and complain, but I got a new room for the second night and the staff was
helpful during the volcano disaster, since I could use internet for free.
View from the hotel.
Some highrises in commie block style in front of Altstadt seen from my hotel. The first view in the morning of Hamburg for me.
The Highflyer balloon at Deichtorplatz. The balloon is a tourist attraction for views of Hamburg.
Deichtor office building. A significant 10-storey glass building from 2002 with sharp angles.
The office building also have an atrium that is visible through its facade.
A significant glass building, not next to the station, but seen from the railway.
Can anyone tell what’s the name and use for this building?
HAMBURG BY NIGHT
I cannot say that I actually have experienced Hamburg by night since I was in Hamburg only for one day, because of a conincidence (I was trapped after my Frankfurt trip and had to take the train home). The only time I had the opportunity to take photos after dark was when walking from the station to the hotel. It was a late monday evening, but I was surprised to find the streets almost completely empty in the city center. A lot of drug addicts are visible
at the main railway stationand one followed me after I bought a train ticket in the automat but I managed to get rid of him!
Hauptbahnhof seen from Mönckebergstrasse.
Steinstrasse with St Jacobi and St Petri churches.
Chilehaus.
Deichtortunnel towards IBM building and Katharinenkirche.
