Germany Bundesrepublik Deutschland

HAMBURG

The port city Hamburg is the second largest city of Germany and of Europe. This federal city has nearly 1.8 million inhabitants (2007). It is located in the South of the German peninsula. To the north is the North Sea and tod the east is the Baltic Sea. Hamburg also has three rivers; these are the Elbe, Bille and Alster. These three rivers are forming a junction. So the landscape in Hamburg and the area is amazing.

Dating to the middle Ages, Hamburg is a member of the medieval Hanseatic League and is called Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg . In this way the port city Hamburg is an international sea trade, commercial and cultural city of Northern Germany. The annual birthday celebration to the honour of the port is a tradition. The world s most great port festival takes place from 9th to 12th of every May. In 2008 it will be 819 years old.

Down the bank side of the river Elbe, between the Hafenstra e and Gro e Elbstra e in the famous district St. Pauli is every Sunday the fish market with its fresh fishes and everything about eating and cooking and even more. Annual culinary events take also place in Hamburg.

Fish has of course a special place in this harbour city. So, under the traditional Hamburger specialities the Aalsuppe, comes at first. It is made of eel. The Krabbensuppe is made of crab. The Labskaus is made of corned beef and potatoes. The Birnen, Bohnen und Speck is made of pear, bean and bacon. Other traditional recipes are Gefüllte Schollenfilets, Hamburger Pannfisch, Kutterscholle Finkenwerder Art and Hering Mecklenburger Art.

It is not done with this. The over 900 feet high Heinrich-Hertz-Turm and the transmitter Hamburg-Billstedt for broadcasting and meteorology, the 8 churches and many bridges, the two lakes Binnenalster and Au enalster, the central park Stadtpark of the early 20th century with its great planetarium, the Hamburger ship Cap San Diego of 1960, the Krameramtsstuben, where the last examples of the old houses of Hamburg from the 17th century are still there can be seen and have traditional meal in its restaurant, the wonderful town hall of the city, the nearly 30 theatres, the main musical performing of the world, the nearly 80 museums and many art galleries can be visited. Attractions like sports events, congresses and sailing one can also enjoy in Hamburg.

Its nightlife in the Reeperbahn street; with opera in the St. Pauli Theatre and comedy, musical and cabaret in the Schmidt Theatre are another attractions.

Also the Hamburg Museum from the early 20ies is located in St. Pauli. The themes of this old museum are shipping, harbour, trade, transport, commerce, constitution, culture and social history of the city.

Another important museum is the Hamburger Kunsthalle, built in 1869. The largest art museum of Germany is located in Au enalster. In the Renaissance style building there are paintings from the middle age to today, many masterpieces of art, for example Rembrandt, photos, pop art, video, international new art examples and many special annual exhibitions.

Hamburger Dom, the place for three annual fairs on the Heiligengeistfeld in the North-East of the above mentioned Reeperbahn: the Frühlingsmarkt (30 days in spring), the Hummelfest (31 days long in summer) and the Dommarkt (30 days in November and December). These 200 years old traditional fairs should be visited.

Colonnaden. This old street from the late 1870ies is now a pedestrian way. It is located between the Jungfernstieg and the Stephansplatz. As the name says, it has sideways arcades. There are many ornamented residential buildings in neo renaissance style, built by famous architects. Specialist shops, caf s and bistros are down the street and let one forget the tiredness.