Schmap Hamburg River Elbe

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Hamburg - River Elbe
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The 1165km-long River Elbe winds its way from the sandstone hills of Saxony to Cuxhaven, where it flows into the North Sea. The Elbe was a decisive factor in attracting traders to settle in the Hamburg area. Indeed, without the Elbe there would be no Hamburg, at least not in its present-day form. The river constituted the city's major trading route for centuries, and the 62km long Elbe Canal linking the Elbe and the Trave was constructed in order to improve the supply of salt to Hamburg's fish markets.

The Elbe offers a fine perspective from which to observe Hamburg's many faces. On one side of the river lies one of the most modern and efficient ports in the world, while on the other side, major commercial and industrial plants alternate with exclusive residential villas, a physical sign of Hamburg's wealth, which the city owes in no small measure to the Elbe. The river is spanned by a number of magnificent edifices including the Elbtunnel and several splendid bridges to the south.

The river bank at Blankenese is the perfect place for a romantic stroll, or for simply sitting and watching the ships go by. In the south, you can paddle in the Elbe's tributary, the Dove-Elbe, and peer towards the huge tankers sluggishly embarking on their journey. The river's one failing is that it is not suitable for bathing. The pressure group 'Save the Elbe' and the Elbe Water Quality Monitoring Unit both report that mercury and hydrocarbon contamination have decreased in recent years, but that similarly lethal substances like lead and benzol have taken their place.

There is even a type of headgear named after the Elbe: the 'Elbsegler' is a close but slightly flatter relative of the 'Prince Heinrich hat', which is popular among north Germans.

There are daily cruises to Blankenese, Schulau and Lühe, as well as from Blankenese to Cranz in the Altes Land. Most of them start from the Landungsbrücken (for more information call +49 40 31 17 07 24). You can also catch a 'City Jet' cruise to Stade from the various jetties on the river (for further information ring +49 41 42 81 81 0).

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Landing Bridges

Picture postcard views

St. Pauli
Hamburg, Hamburg 20359
Germany
+49 (0)40 3005 1300 (Information für Touristen)

The impressive Landungsbrücken and Old Elbe Tunnel are probably Hamburg's most popular picture postcard motifs. Built in 1906-10 by Ludwig Raabe and Otto Wöhlecke, the 420 meters long building features two towers of differing heights, as well as a number of bridge-shaped passageways and copper domes. Several piers lead out to floating pontoons in the middle of the Elbe. These were once used as mooring points for the galleons which frequented the city, but are now used primarily by sightseeing boats.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Landing Bridges photo by Aanjhan Ranganathan

Photo: Aanjhan Ranganathan

Photo: marckoenigmnl

Photo: Rauno Varblas

Old Country

Fruit, vegetables and street curling Gerstenkoppel
Hamburg, Niedersachsen 22145
Germany
+49 (0)41 419 9120 (Information fur Touristen) The "Old Country" is located southwest of Hamburg and its "capital" Jork can still easily be reached by public transport. The old marshland was dyked and made fertile as early as in the 12th Century. Today, quality products from this fruit and vegetable paradise are delivered to places far beyond the greater Hamburg area. A good time for trips is late spring when the seemingly endless orchards are in full bloom and then again during the harvest season. On the first weekend in May there is a "blossom-festival" in Jork, including a parade with the new "Fruit Blossom Queen". In winter a form of curling on the orchard paths is a popular hobby around here-of course you need some fruit wine to keep warm.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Old Elbe Tunnel

Old river tunnel Bei den St.-Pauli-Landungsbrücken
Hamburg, Hamburg 20359
Germany
+49 (0)40 3005 1300 (Information für Touristen) Built in 1907-11, the oldest of the Elbe Tunnels links the district of St. Pauli with the island of Steinwerder. The twin tunnel is 426m long, 4.70m wide, 4.50m high and runs just 6m below the river. Built for traffic, cyclists and pedestrians, the tunnel is decorated with ornaments and tiles and can only be reached by lift or down the staircase. The interesting dome-shaped entrance hall on the north side was built by Ludwig Raabe and Otto Wöhlecke. Due to increasing amounts of traffic, even the New Elbe Tunnel has just been extended to an extra lane.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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