Hamburg's cityscape

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 "Heinrich Hertz" 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.