This statistic is made even more
interesting when one finds that nearly half the city is
Christian and the second largest religion is Islam. All the
same, it is rare to find culture clashes of a large scale in
Hamburg
.
The Greater Hamburg Metropolitan Region has a population of 4 million. With its stunning location on the Elbe and Alster Rivers, Hamburg is one of the most beautiful spots in Germany. Connected with innumerous channels of canals and artificial lakes, and countless parks and gardens surrounding them (about 1,400), the city retains a lush, verdant green look.
The Hamburg Cruise Center, where cruise lines land in Hamburg, is in the HafenCity area.
HISTORY
Long before the word "fuehrer" ever reared its ugly head, Hamburg was the home of Emperor Charlemagne in the 800s. The city took its name from the first permanent building on the site, a castle named Hammaburg built by Emperor Charlemagne. The castle sat on rocky ground in a marsh between the Alster and the Elbe which served as a defense against Slavic incursion. In the name Hammaburg: "burg" means castle and "Hamme" stands for wooded elevation, wood or forest. (Actually, the "Hamma" element remains uncertain as does the original location of this castle.)
Over its history, few cities in the world have seen and experienced as much as Hamburg. The city has withstood air raids against the Nazis, Viking attacks, Polish occupation and even the decimation of eighty percent of the population during the Black Death between 1348 and 1350, (a plague probably carried by fleas residing on the black rats that were regular passengers on merchant ships.)
Hamburg was very fortunate to have remained undisturbed by the Thirty Years War (1618–1648) which was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history. A conflict in which the goals of the participants were complex and no single cause can accurately be described as the main reason for the fighting!
But, sadly, the Great Fire of 1842 almost burned down the entire old Hamburg with a loss of about a quarter of the city. This fire started on the night of May 4th, 1842, quickly spread through the heart of the city, and was finally extinguished on May 8. It destroyed three churches, the town hall, and many other buildings. It killed 51 people, and left an estimated 20,000 homeless. Reconstruction took more than 40 years..
Still, in spite of all of this, Hamburg grew profusely as the years went on and became one of the world's richest cities just up to the point of World War II. Today, Hamburg remains a leading port for carrying cargo and cruise ship passengers and has plenty to offer with superb polish and class. You can explore some of the oldest places to visit in beautiful Hamburg.. for example, Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) buildings, the 14th century houses of Deichstrasse, and the Kontorhausviertel. And still enjoy its elegant modern side, with palatial department stores along its boulevards, art centers, international musicals, exclusive shopping arcades and the famous St. Pauli entertainment district. Modern buildings sit side by side with historic Baroque and Renaissance architecture in this successful commercial port city.
ECONOMY
Hamburg has been nicknamed the Hollywood of Germany. All of the German elite and celebrities call Hamburg their home. Simply stroll though the canal region of Hamburg, dine in one of the many fabulous outdoor cafes, enjoy a beautiful coastal sunset, and you will understand why.
With its own stock exchange, banking system and navy in place by the end of the 16th century, Hamburg has long been an important city. The city has the highest GDP in Germany – €50,000 per capita – and a relatively high employment rate, with 88 percent of the working-age population. The city is home to over 120,000 enterprises. In 2007, the average income of employees was €30,937.
PEOPLE
The people of Hamburg are known as "Hamburgers" (pronounce the a like you're saying "ah" and it won't sound as silly) - or, "Hamburgians." They are an interesting mix of Turkish, British, and Polish backgrounds although a large amount of people (over twenty-two thousand) are of Afghanistan descent, giving Hamburg the highest population of Afghans in all of Europe.
WEATHER
The warmest months in Hamburg are June, July, August and September with mean temperatures of 19.9 to 22.2 °C (68 to 72 °F). The coldest are December, January, and February, with mean temperatures of -1.4 to 0.0 °C (29 to 32 °F).
CURRENCY
The Euro is the valid currency in Germany. For your
first steps after arrival in Germany, make sure you bring enough cash with
you to get you through the first days here. Please enquire with the
International Office if you have any queries regarding financial issues.
Please keep in mind that buses, subways, some taxis and small shops only
take cash. No cards are accepted.
Hamburg |
