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In St. Pauli, on the Elbe between Niederhafen, the Fischmarkt and the Reeperbahn, you will find an impressive ensemble of tuff stone buildings: the Landungsbrücken (St. Pauli piers). Even Klein Erna (“Little Erna”) knows that – she is the central character in countless jokes and anecdotes full of Hamburg local colour:
Klein Erna is out for a walk with her Heini in the dark. When they get near the Bismarck monument, Klein Erna suddenly says: “Heini, wanna see where I had me appendix out?” “Oh yes, Klein Erna, show me!” “Look, down there, where all them lights are – that's the harbour hospital, that's where I had me appendix out!” Hamburg humour.
Today, they serve as U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations.
Construction of the U-Bahn station began in 1906, and it opened on 29 June 1912. Since 1 June 1975, there has also been an S-Bahn stop here. A wide footbridge connects the station with the ferry piers.
This is also where the famous harbour tour boats arrive and depart, and many tourists take the ferry across from the other bank of the Elbe to the musical theatres. You can head out onto the Elbe on HADAG ferry 62 or hop aboard the catamaran to Heligoland for a day trip.
Visible from far and wide and part of the Port of Hamburg's skyline, the two distinctive towers and the domes with their green copper roofs are hard to miss. On the taller of the
two towers, you can read not only the time but also the water level of the Norderelbe from the shore, and the bell rings on the hour and half-hour.
The 205-metre-long terminal building, with its many passageways to the piers, was rebuilt in 1907 by the architects Raabe and Wöhlecke, while the impressive architectural sculptures are the work of German sculptor Arthur Bock and perfectly reflect the aesthetic ideals of the Art Nouveau era. On the north side of the gauge tower, next to the maritime-themed door frame, there is a relief bearing the inscription “Wohr Di, wenn de Blanke Hans kummt” (“Beware when the Blanke Hans comes” – Blanke Hans being the local term for a storm surge).
The building has been a listed monument since 2003.
Lingovo, Schürbeker Straße 5, 22087 Hamburg
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The first pier opened as early as 1839, so that coal steamers could be loaded and unloaded at a safe distance from the houses, which stood closer to the shore at the time. People feared that, if a fire broke out, the flames might spread to the homes. The pier consisted of floating pontoons, with nine movable bridges providing access from the land.
The newer pier was originally used as a landing stage for passenger steamers on transatlantic routes, including HAPAG liners. The 1907 pier was destroyed in the Second World War, and the pontoons were renewed between 1953 and 1955. In 1976, the last new connecting section was inserted between bridges 2 and 3. The roofing and lighting were modernised in 1999.
On a fine day, a visit to the Landungsbrücken rarely stays just that. As well as a harbour tour, the Old Elbe Tunnel and the museum ships Cap San Diego and Rickmer Rickmers draw visitors to the port. A stroll past the souvenir shops is fun too, and when you need a break, plenty of restaurants and cafés serve Hamburg specialities, from Labskaus and fish rolls to eel soup. Strolling along with a Franzbrötchen (a cinnamon pastry) in your hand while watching container ships and cruise liners go by can be wonderfully relaxing.
