St. Catherine's Church

The huge 117-metre bell tower atop St Catherine's Church in Hamburg city centre stands out against the cityscape. There's been a church on this site along the banks of the Elbe since 1256, making it the second oldest structure in the city.

It originally served the local population of fishermen but was later rebuilt as a Gothic-style basilica and became one of Hamburg's most important places of worship. The red-brick structure is easily identifiable thanks to its soaring bell tower, and many visitors climb to the top to sample the fantastic views of the city. This, however, is not for the faint-hearted as there are over 200 steps to the tower's pinnacle!

You can also take a tour of the tower on Saturday mornings from June to October. Everything apart from the 13th-century base of the tower and the church's outer walls were destroyed during an air raid in 1943 but it was faithfully reconstructed in the 1950s. It's not just the church's exterior that demands attention though there's also plenty to see on the inside, which is a reconstruction of the original medieval church.

There are many ornate decorative items and treasures to be found, including a crucifix and woodcarving of St Catherine from the 15th century which are considered priceless. Perhaps what the church is best-known for, however, is the famous old organ, which also dates back to the 15th century. It is said that a sixteen-year-old Johann Sebastian Bach made the 50-kilometre trip to St Catherine's from his home in 1701 just to hear the instrument.

The damage to the organ during World War II has been lovingly repaired under the motto “an organ for Bach” and it is still played to this day during regular concerts. Check out the church's official website for details of performance times during your visit.

To get to St Catherine’s Church, take the U-bahn to Messberg station. There is no charge for admission.