KM1 Speicherstadt UNESCO Site ArtSpeicherstadt (lit. 'warehouse city') is the world's largest complex of warehouses, spanning听an area of 260,000 square metres. It was built into the Elbe river between 1883 and the late 1920s听on thousands of oak poles听as a free economic zone in Hamburg's port. Speicherstadt's beautiful neo-gothic brick architecture makes for an exciting contrast to the听modern steel-and-glass constructions of听neighbouring HafenCity.听
As of 2015, Speicherstadt (along with Kontorhausviertel and Chilehaus)听proudly bears the honour of being听Germany鈥檚 40th UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to the Committee, Speicherstadt 鈥� with its unique buildings and winding network of streets, canals and bridges 鈥� is an 'extraordinary example of representing one or more eras of human history'.
Speicherstadt Throughout History
In 1871, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg became听part of the German Empire, yet was able to maintain its own tax and customs regulations for a time. This privilege remained in place until 1881, when a new customs union was installed. From this point on, only the free port area along the Elbe river was exempt from import sales taxes and customs. The final annexation of Hamburg by the German Empire was scheduled for 1888, giving the city seven years to create new storage capacities inside the free port area. Before the construction of the warehouses could begin in 1883, around 24,000 people had to be evicted and around 1,100 houses听torn down. 听听听听听听听听听
In 1888, Emperor Wilhelm II听inaugurated Speicherstadt听on听Emperor鈥檚 Day, 29 October, although only the first building phase had been completed. Interrupted by World War I, Speicherstadt construction was finished only in 1927. During World War II, Operation Gomorrha destroyed the western part of Speicherstadt. Reconstructions were finalized in 1967. And on 1 January听2013, an era came to a close when the free economic zone of Speicherstadt, which covered almost a fifth of Hamburg鈥檚 entire port area, was dissolved. 听听听听
Sightseeing in Speicherstadt
Today, Speicherstadt is host to听an array of leisure activities.听Miniatur Wunderland, an enormous model railway system, is immensely popular with all age groups, while Hamburg Dungeon offers brave visitors听a spooky trip through Hamburg鈥檚 history. The Deutsches Zollmuseum (lit. 'German Customs Museum')听tells the story of customs and smuggling, while the Internationales Maritimes Museum Hamburg听offers thousands of model ships and maps for visitors to pour over. Automuseum Prototyp boasts rare prototypes from 70 years of automobile history, and Kaffeer枚sterei is all about听coffee. This former coffee warehouse turned caf茅听offers听coffee tastings and freshly-roasted beans from all over the world.
There's plenty to see outside the old warehouses too.听In the long canals between the former storage buildings, you can catch smaller ships making听their way through the area.听At its opening in 1866, Sandtorkai was the first modern dock in the city, where ships could be loaded and unloaded directly from the pier. Today,听Sandtorkai is home to听the Traditionsschiffhafen (lit. 'traditional ship harbour'), where you'll find听up to 20 different historical听ships.
One of the most popular photo ops in Speicherstadt is the Wasserschloss (lit. 'water castle') at the end of Holl盲ndischer Birdge, which was constructed between 1905 and 1907. Back then, it was the only part in the warehouse district that could be used as residential property. This rule was designed to prevent contraband trade in the port area.听
Thanks to its picturesque look听and central location, Caf茅 Fleetschl枚sschen, a former customs booth on Brooktorkai, has also become a favourite among photographers. Another Speicherstadt building that has garnered some fame is听the river police station on Kehrwiederspitze. Constructed in 1902, it now serves as the filming location for national TV听station ZDF鈥檚 Notruf Hafenkante. 听听听听听听
Last but not least there is the eye-catching Speicherstadtrathaus听(lit. 'warehouse district town hall'), the headquarters of HHLA transport and logistics. The beautiful office building was designed by Johannes Grotjan and Han脽en&Meerwein, who have also contributed greatly to the construction of Hamburg City Hall.