Guests arriving in one of the largest and most beautiful German cities have no difficulty in choosing what to visit in Hamburg. But a difficult task arises with the performance of one ritual, which, they say, contributes to the return to the city. Keeping to the tradition of throwing a coin to return is much more difficult here. You need to throw this metal sign on top of one of the piles, which in many cases stick out of the water.
Since Hamburg, on the one hand, is a seaport, and on the other, it stands on the river, sometimes you can hear its beautiful definition - "German Venice". As in the Italian city, in Hamburg you can see many historical sights, beautiful architectural structures and temples, museums and galleries. In terms of the number of musicals staged in local theaters, the city is in third place in the world.
Which temples to visit in Hamburg
The city is inhabited by people of different confessions, but the majority of residents are Protestants, so a tour of Protestant churches can be one of the most memorable. The most interesting for guests from other countries are the following temples: the Church of St. Jacob; the church of St. Michael; the church of St. Catherine; St. Peter's Church.
Despite the simple names, without pomp and splendor, the temple complexes of Hamburg attract attention both with their external architecture and artistic decoration. At the same time, they are not alike, they have their own "zest" and values.
You can see the Church of St. Jacob from afar - its feature is the tower, which rises to 125 meters. The temple was consecrated in honor of one of the very first disciples of Christ, Jacob. Inside you can see old altars, erected in 1500, 1508, 1518. The main attraction of the temple is the baroque organ installed in 1693.
The next Hamburg church is consecrated in honor of the Archangel Michael, it is famous for a huge statue made of bronze and demonstrating the victory over the devil. This temple can also be seen from afar, as it is decorated with a huge spire, it is covered with copper and sparkles in the sun and serves as a kind of landmark for tourists and ships that ply the Elbe.
The church of St. Catherine, built in 1256 and badly damaged during the Second World War, also has its own organ. The musical instrument attracts the attention of visitors, especially after the guide told that great musicians of the past, including Bach, played on this organ. It is even known in what year the parishioners of the church listened to the play of the famous German musician - this important event took place in 1720, but he had previously attended this church.
One of the oldest in the city is the Church of St. Peter: the beginning of construction dates back to the XI century, in 1310 it was rebuilt and to this day retains the Gothic style. The main historical and cultural treasure of this temple is the doorknobs made of bronze and installed on the doors of the western portal. They are among the oldest works of art stored in Hamburg, dating back to 1341. A century later, beautiful frescoes on the walls appeared in the temple complex, and everyone can see them today.
Temples are what you can visit in Hamburg on your own, although, undoubtedly, the story of a knowledgeable person, guide or amateur will greatly enrich the impressions and knowledge of the tourist.
Masterpieces of German architecture
Many architectural structures have survived in the city, which amaze with their exteriors and internal content. One of them is Chili House, which looks like an ocean liner. The translation of the name reveals the reasons for the appearance of such a house in Hamburg - it was built at the request of one of the richest city merchants who increased their capital thanks to commercial ties with Chile. In the architecture of the building, there is no hint of a relationship with the South American state and its culture, on the contrary, this is a classic example of German Expressionism.
Another interesting place is one of the Hamburg streets, on which the so-called shopkeepers' houses are located. The architectural complex appeared here in the 17th century, built in the half-timbered style. The guides claim that the inhabitants of the premises in these pretty fairytale houses were not shopkeepers, but widows, for whom the guild built houses. Until 1969, they housed homes for the elderly (now not only for shopkeepers' widows). Then the decision was made to turn this generally sad place into a tourist attraction. One of the houses is currently a museum, which displays materials, witnesses, illustrations of previous events. The rest of the houses work as shops and restaurants, and are open all week except Monday.
