St. Catherine’s Church (Hauptkirche Sankt Katharinen)

Like many churches in Frankfurt, this 13th‑century sanctuary was gravely damaged during Operation Gomorrah, the Allied bombing of Hamburg in World War II. Its exquisite interior furnishings were reduced to ashes, and the graceful structure we see today was painstakingly rebuilt after the war, following the original architectural drawings. With the rise of HafenCity over the past decade, St. Catherine’s has once again become part of the city’s vibrant core, surrounded by life and movement. In 2007, the church underwent another major restoration to address severe structural issues dating from earlier centuries. By the first Sunday of Advent in 2012, after a renovation costing approximately 23 million euros, St. Catherine’s reopened in full celebration-its new pipe organ a symbol of renewal and continuity.

The Baroque spire of St. Catherine’s is often praised as one of Hamburg’s most beautiful, a striking moment of color and form on the city’s skyline. It stands as a silent witness to the city’s fortunes and its faith—a place of reflection, encounter, and refuge. Such towers have shaped not only Hamburg’s urban landscape but also the generations who have lived beneath them. Rising skyward, the spire embodies the transcendence and eternity central to the Christian faith. The lower section of the tower, dating back to 1250 and reaching about 23 meters in height, remains intact—making it the oldest surviving high‑rise brick structure in Hamburg today.