Hamburg - Reeperbahn

Hamburg is the second largest city by population in Germany and the second smallest German state by area.

"Hammaburg" was the name of a castle, that Charlemagne commissioned here between the River Alster and the River Elbe. In 1189 Frederick I (aka "Barbarossa") granted Hamburg freedom from customs duties for ships sailing the Elbe from Hamburg to the North Sea.

So the the second largest port in Europe developed here - and just near to the harbour the "Reeperbahn", where once ropes (reep = rope) were produced. Today the area is a centre of Hamburg's nightlife and as well a red-light district.

Between 1960 and 1962 the (still unknown) Beatles played in several clubs around the Reeperbahn. Their first recording was done in the "Star Club". John Lennon is quoted: "I might have been born in Liverpool – but I grew up in Hamburg".