Hamburg's oldest parish church survived the air raids of World War II and remains home to some ancient works of art.
The Altstadt or Old Town district is Hamburg's oldest parish so it is fitting that it is also home to the city's most venerable place of worship. There has been a church on the site of St Peter's since 1195 and, unlike most churches in the city, the current one is not a post-war reconstruction, having somehow survived the bombings of World War II with scarcely any damage.
The building you see today was built in 1849 after the Great Fire of 1842 destroyed the previous structure. A visit to this unique church offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding Mönckebergstrasse shopping district. One of St Peter’s biggest draws is the fantastic array of artworks that it houses within its walls, some of which are older than the church itself and give valuable insight into the history of the former parishioners and the city.
The oldest, and perhaps best known, of the pieces are the bronze lion-head door handles dating from 1342, which can be found in the west portal. Bishop Ansgar of Bremen is portrayed in a Gothic mural from 1460 in the north part of the church, while the painting entitled Christmas 1813 depicts an important part of the church – and city's – history, when citizens of Hamburg were locked inside by Napoleon's troops for refusing to supply food to the soldiers.
There are free guided tours on Thursdays and the first Sunday of the month if you want to learn about the fascinating history and art of St Peter's. On Wednesday evenings there are organ music concerts which are open to the public. The church's tall tower is one of the highest in the whole city and many people brave the 544 steps to take in the views across the Rathausmarkt (Town Hall market) and Alster Lake from the top.
Admission to St Peter's is free. To get there take the U-bahn to Rathaus or Jungfernstieg stations.
