Hamburg ... No, you can't call him that. The correct, full name is: The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Much more solid, to match the city itself, a large industrial and port center. Yes, this is not quite a city: it is one of the federal states, both a city and a state.
Hamburg
The word Hamburg itself comes from Gammaburg, "fortress on the banks of the river." That was the name of the castle, built in 950 on the site of a settlement that has been there since the 8th century, on the banks of the navigable river Elba, about 110 kilometers from its confluence with the sea. The place itself obligated - the city was engaged in navigation and trade. Since 1189, he receives the status of a free city, and in 1241 he became one of the founders of the Hansa - the union of trading cities.
Hamburg landmarks
Alster Lake
Alster Lake (Alster)
Several rivers flow through the city and many canals are laid, for which Hamburg is called northern Venice. But where is Venice - there are not so many bridges there - there are 2302 of them! The city is a sea of greenery, parks, gardens, squares. It is worth walking along the shores of Lake Alster, which is located in the very center of the city, looking at the villas of millionaires and admiring the unique fountain, whose jets rise 60 meters.
Town Hall
Town Hall (Rathaus)
The memory of the past is also stored here. One of the symbols of the city is town hall, not such an ancient building - it was built in the Neo-Renaissance style in 1897, but giving the impression of ancient splendor. All 647 rooms are richly decorated. The city parliament and the government work here. An example of amazing constancy is the building in which it has been operating since 1558. Stock Exchange, and since 1665 - and Chamber of Commerce. Yes, they work to this day.
Church of St. Michael
Church of St. Michael (Michaeliskirche)
The Church of St. Michael (Michaeliskirche) is the main symbol of Hamburg: its 132-meter tower with the largest clock in Germany can be seen from everywhere. Hamburgers have been looking at her since 1762, in their own way simply calling them "Michel". A little lower and the bell tower of the church of St. Jacobi (Jacobikirche), built in 1255. They built it outside the city walls, but the city came to it, surrounded it and now it is in the very center, on the Mönckebergstraße shopping street.
Hamburg Museums
Church of St. Jacobi (Jacobikirche)
Well, how not to mention the museums of Hamburg - from Kunsthalle, the best art gallery in Germany with thousands of paintings and hundreds of sculptures, to the "The Beatles" museum - after all, this is where the legendary Liverpool four made their first steps towards world fame.
Kunsthalle
And if you travel with children, do not forget about the best in Europe zoo with 2.5 thousand animals and with diverse representations.
Zoo
If evening has come and you are not tired yet, go to Reeperbahn Street. It is the center of the city’s nightlife with all the necessary bars, casinos and strip clubs, because of which the street has received the nickname "die sundige Meile" - the "sinful mile". The city of sailors knows how to have fun! And in the morning, if it is Sunday morning, go to the Fish Market (Fischmarkt) - believe me, it’s worth it: not only are they selling fish there.
Fish Market (Fischmarkt)
And still worth a climb to the observation deck television tower (Fernsehturm)so that from a height of 128 meters you can immediately look at the whole of Hamburg - oh, sorry, at the Free and Hanseatic city of Hamburg.
