Jungfernstieg
The Jungfernstieg (German pronunciation: [juːŋfɛʀnstiːɡ]) is an urban promenade in Hamburg, Germany. It is the city's foremost boulevard.
Location
For the largest part, Jungfernstieg lies within the Hamburg quarter of Neustadt, though its eastern end also reaches into Hamburg-Altstadt. In total, Jungfernstieg stretches some 600 m along the southern, south-western shore of Lake Binnenalster and continues further to Gänsemarkt. On the lake-side, it is framed by Ballindamm to the east and Neuer Jungfernstieg to the west. On the built-up land-side, Jungfernstieg intersects with a number of streets: in Altstadt with Bergstraße, Plan and Reesendamm; the latter carries on along the shore of Kleine Alster (Little Alster) towards Rathausmarkt. At Reesendammbrücke, Jungfernstieg crosses the Alster into Neustadt. It goes past Neuer Wall and Große Bleichen, two of Hamburg's leading shopping streets. At the intersection with Neuer Jungfernstieg, Jungfernstieg forms a Y-junction with Collonaden, another shopping street.
The entire length of the lake-side is occupied by a gently stepping, some 50 m deep terrace. Two pavilions are located on the terrace: the Alsterpavillion (a café), and a smaller pavilion, which functions as entry to a rapid transit station. The water's edge is used as the central landing pier for Hamburg's Alster ferries.
History
The history of Jungfernstieg began in 1235. At that time, Count Adolf IV of Holstein commissioned the construction of a mill dam, in order to use the Alster's water for a local corn mill. The resulting mill pond turned out much larger than expected, as it reached dimensions of an outright lake. It caused a legal battle, as to who had to pay for the lost land, but it also gave land for a city expansion in the back of the dam: Hamburg's Neustadt (new town). The embankment along the newly created Lake Binnenalster was named Reesendamm, in honor of miller Heinrich Reese, who at the time operated the mill.
During the 17th and 18th century Reesendamm was enhanced and widened several times. In 1665 a line of linden trees were planted along the water front. With Hamburg's growing international sea trade and the city's status as a sovereign city-state, the elegant promenade obtained a cosmopolitan outlook and became popular for strolls along the lake front. Hanseaten accompanied their unmarried daughters out on a walk, looking for a suitable bridegroom, led to today's name of the promenade: Jungfern (i.e. maiden), Stieg (i.e. stair, walk). In 1799 the first Alsterpavillion (Alster Pavilion) was opened; it housed a café and a restaurant and − according to fashion − has been replaced six times until today. In 1838 Jungfernstieg became Germany's first street to be asphalted.
The Great Fire of 1842 destroyed the entire build-up. After the subsequent reconstruction, Jungfernstieg presented itself in a uniform Neoclassical form. The Arcades on Kleine Alster date from this period. In 1843, Sillem's Bazar opened on Jungfernstieg as Germany's first shopping arcade, connecting onto Poststraße. During the Gründerzeit boom in the later decades of the 19th century, many of the Neoclassical buildings were gradually replaced by various Revival style buildings. Sillem's Bazar was replaced by Renaissance Revival Hamburger Hof in 1881. Art Nouveau Heine-Haus was rebuilt in 1903. Scholviens-Passage was replaced by Alsterhaus department store in 1912.
In 1866 a horsecar line was introduced on Jungfernstieg, which by 1900 was replaced by an electric tram line. Jungfernstieg U-Bahn station was opened in 1931 and extended by an underground S-Bahn station in 1973. Gänsemarkt U-Bahn station opened in 1970. By 1978 the tram was discontinued, though the Senate has repeatedly considered to reintroduce it. During the early 2000s, Jungfernstieg was substantially refurbished.[1]
Today
The newly refurbished lake-side's terrace forms a public waterfront-plaza with views onto lake and the lake's fountain. The terrace is used for events throughout the year.
Though not one of Hamburg's typical shopping streets, Jungfernstieg features direct access to some of Hamburg's largest shopping malls and accommodates a number of banks, art galleries and high-end shops.[2] More importantly, its history, the scenic setting on the Binnenalster and its pivot role for the inner city's commercial life and street grid, attribute it with a strong "sense of place" for people to relax, watch and meet.
See also
- List of leading shopping streets and districts by city
- Brühl's Terrace in Hamburg's sister-city Dresden
- English Embankment in Hamburg's sister-city Saint Petersburg
References
- ↑ "Die Renaissance des Jungfernstiegs". lebendiger-jungfernstieg.de (in German). Retrieved 5 October 2014.
- ↑ "Jungfernstieg". hamburg.de. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jungfernstieg. |
- photos on bilderbuch-hamburg.de (German)
- Jungfernstieg interest group (German)