A proud "Free and Hanseatic City" as its official title implies,
Hamburg has long been firmly established as Germany's second city.
The city is home to one of the largest ports in Europe, and the
fortunes of the port have been directly linked to Hamburg's
prosperity. The city was relatively small until 1189, when it was
declared a Free Imperial City. This opened up Hamburg's potential
to merchants on the nearby trade routes of both the North and
Baltic Seas.
Unencumbered by dukes or princes, the autonomous city quickly
became very wealthy, a position that was strengthened further when
it joined the Hanseatic League in the 13th century. Hamburg's
wealth made it a prime target for Allied forces during the Second
World War, and it was attacked on a number of occasions - leaving
its centre virtually destroyed. Yet it was able to recover quicker
than most European cities in the post-war years, again thanks to
the trading opportunities it had.
Hamburg later became known for its music scene, and in
1961 it hosted many of the Beatles' earliest gigs. Today the
vibrant city has much to recommend it; with its extraordinary
setting amongst verdant parks, lakes and tree-lined canals the city
is far greener than its heavy industry would suggest. Hamburg's
many exciting neighbourhoods - from the bustling harbour to the
lively downtown - are all easily connected and a delight to
explore, and the city has been fascinating visitors for many
years.
Classic
