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Hamburg, Germany Vacations and Luxury Travel Packages Hamburg lies open to many streams of influence. With city-state traditions reaching back for centuries, it has always played a special political and cultural role...Three rivers - the Alster, Bille and Elbe, with many scenic canals called Fleete traverse Hamburg. Hamburg has many beautiful lakes - the Inner and Outer Alster Lakes. The city centre iof Hamburg is where most of the attractions are. This halfmoon shaped area curves north of the Elbe, and is bordered by roads that names all end in wall (ramparts) which mark the extent of the old city. Slicing through the middle is the Alsterfleet, a canal that splits the Altstadt (Old City) from the Neustadt (New City). The bronze, helmet-shaped Michaeliskirche, is a prominant landmark, south of the city centre.
What are the first things that come to mind when you think of Hamburg? Probably the city's stunning location on the Elbe and Alster Rivers, the colorful activity in the St. Pauli entertainment district, unforgettable musicals, a night at the theater, Michaelis Church (colloquially "der Michel") or the impressive harbor. Hamburg, 1,200 years old, is loved both for its contemporary scene as well as for its cultural offerings. In between traditional trading houses and renowned theaters, the latest trends are always cropping up. Hamburg lies open to many streams of influence. With city-state traditions reaching back for centuries, it has always played a special political and cultural role. Today, as a key commercial hub, an international harbor and a media and cultural center, the metropolis on the Elbe River with its one million inhabitants is once again pursuing ancient traditions with typically Hanseatic aplomb. This comes as no surprise: Germany's second largest city offers a high quality of life and international flair. In Hamburg, the word "boredom" is unknown.
At the Speicherstadt, the port's historical warehouse district, newest shipping houses have been built almost side by side with the old. Visitors to Hamburg are immediately struck by the visual tension of the citys contrasts. Post modern glass and steel facades, the patrician mansions of epochs past, baroque churches, historical residential quarters and a 278 meter TV tower all contribute to the city's look. The mercantile glory of the 19th century has been preserved in important classical buildings along the Inner Alster. Also worthy of note is the characteristic red brick building style which became popular after the turn of the century. Former blue-collar residential districts - clustered around the Stadtpark - are now coveted homes. In the downtown area, the status-conscious air of municipal buildings and offices set the tone. Hamburg's famous renaissance-style Rathaus celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1997. Although little is left to remind us of the city's oldest core, visitors exploring Hamburg on foot will travel through time from the present to the ancient past. Speicherstadt, the port's historical warehouse district, is a prime example. Here, Hamburgs newest shipping houses have been built almost side by side with the old.
Hamburg is the third most important city for musicals in the world after New York and London... Culture has always been writ large in Hamburg. The cultural tradition in the Hanseatic city dates back to medieval times. Poets such as Klopstock, Lessing and Heinrich Heine, as well as world-famous composers including Handel and Mahler, have left their mark on Hanseatic cultural history. Gustav Gr?s made theatrical history with his legendary dramatisation of Faust, and the Beatles celebrated their breakthrough in the Starclub. From Plattd? to John Neumeier's ballet, you'll find just about everything at Hamburg's stages. Besides three state theatres, the Hamburgische Staatsoper, founded in 1678, the Deutsches Schauspielhaus, Thalia Theater, over 40 private theatres, 50 museums and a total of 313 theatres, concert halls, music halls and cabaret venues attract audiences with a colourful cultural offering. Hamburg is the third most important city for musicals in the world after New York and London. "Cats" ran for almost 15 years, making it the longest-running musical in Germany; this kind of success continues with productions such as "The Lion King", "Mamma Mia" and "The Fearless Vampire Killers". "Auf der Reeperbahn nachts um halb Eins..." The romantic sailor's image as once evoked by Hans Albers in his popular songs belongs as much to Hamburg history as the great fire of 1842. But there is much more to the St. Pauli where blond Hans once spent his time than just streetwalkers, strip shows and sex shops. The heart of the harbour city beats on Hamburg's number-one pleasure mile: both Hamburg visitors and Hamburgers themselves meet in clubs, discos, dance clubs, bars, pubs and café³® The cultural scene has also established itself: whenever the curtain goes up at Schmidt-Theater, for example, you can expect the show to be funky. Musicals theatres have also found a suitable theatrical home here. St. Pauli's worldwide fame as a party district par excellence is not without reason: as early as the 18th and 19th centuries, a colourful band of people settled around the harbour and built up a new life here. St. Pauli came to symbolise prostitution and other pleasures. On the Spielbudenplatz, tightrope walkers and snake charmers, acrobat horseriders and fireaters demonstrated their skills. Tourists have been coming from all over the world since the First World War. When in the seventies and eighties the glamour age seemed to be over, Willi Bartels, property owner and "King of St. Pauli", committed himself to redesigning the area: less sex, more culture instead, more discos, more clean entertainment. "The young people should come to St. Pauli again,": was the credo of Bartels, who's now 87. A concept which took off with complete success: St. Pauli is livelier today than ever before. |
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