Hamburg Guide for Tourist
GROBE MICHAELSKIRCHE. The gargantuan 18th-century Michaelskirche is the symbol of Hamburg, and with good reason. The turning times that raised the city razed the church as well: Lightning, accidents, and Allied bombs destroyed the church again and again. Restored in 1996, its interior and scalloped walls are reminiscent of a concert hall. The tower, accessible by foot or elevator, is the only one of the city’s six spires that may be climbed. On weekends, it is used to project a multimedia presentation about Hamburg’s millennial existence onto a 5m-high screen. (Screenings Th, Sa and Su every hr. 12:30-3:30pm. Organ music Apr.-Aug. daily at noon and 5pm. Church open June-Oct. daily llam~4:30pm, Nov.-May M-F llam-4:30pm. Tower ‚3.)
RATHAUS. The seat of both city and state government, full of intricate mahogany carvings and two-ton chandeliers, is unquestionably the most richly-ornamented building in Hamburg. The plaza in front hosts political demonstrations and medieval fairs. (Tours in English every hr. M-Th 10:15am-3:15pm, F-Su 10:15am-l:15pm. ‚1.)
NIKOLAIKIRCHE. Devastated by an Allied bomb in 1943, the spire of this hallowed (and hollowed) neo-Gothic ruin pierces the heavens with its dark reminder of war. (History exhibition open M-F llam-5pm, Sa-Su llam-6pm. ‚2.) The buildings along nearby Trostbriicke sport huge copper models of clipper ships on their spires a testament to Hamburg’s sea-trade wealth. (Just south of the Rathaus, off Ost-West-Str.)
MONKEBERGSTRAfiE. Hamburg’s shopping zone stretches from the Rathaus to the Hauptbahnhof and is punctuated by two spires. The first belongs to St. Pet-rikirche, the oldest church in Hamburg. (Open M-Tu and Th-F 10am-6:30pm, \N 10am-7pm, Sa 10am-5pm, Su 9am-9pm. Free concerts \N 5:15pm.) The second, St. Jakobikirche, is known for its 14th-century Arp-Schnittger organ. (Open M-Sa 10am-5pm.)
