The city state and Hanseatic city of Hamburg is located in north Germany and borders on the federal states of Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony. Like Berlin and Bremen it enjoys the combined status of both a city and a federal state. With an area of 755 qkm and a population of 1.7 million inhabitants Hamburg is Germany's second largest city after Berlin.
www.hamburg.de
In the 9th century, during the regency of Charlemagne, Hamburg was founded under the name of "Hammaburg." During the 13th century Hamburg developed into a trading city and joined the Hanseatic League in 1321. In 1510 Hamburg became a free Imperial city ranking among the wealthiest cities in Europe. Since 1949 the free, Hanseatic city of Hamburg has been an independent federal state and is currently governed by a CDU senate headed by First Mayor Ole von Beust.
Hamburg has progressed into the 21st century by transforming itself from a port into a modern centre of logistics, technology and services with over a million jobs. Companies with the largest turnovers include Otto (mail orders), the oil groups Exxon, Shell, BP and Dea, Tchibo (coffee), Airbus (aviation) und Beiersdorf (cosmetics). But the port is still a major economic pacemaker.
www.hwf-hamburg.de
Hamburg has eleven colleges and universities with over 60,000 students forming a centre of scientific training and education. Some 250 research and teaching institutions with 5,000 scientists are actively involved in research and development. Institutions of international significance include: the German Electron Synchrotron (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchroton DESY) in elementary particle physics, the Max Planck Institute of Meteorology and the Bernhard Nocht Institute of Tropical Medicine. The Bucerius Law School is the latest addition to this reputable list.
Hamburg is brimming with cultural opportunities: the city has three state theatres and 35 private theatres, three orchestras and innumerable concert halls, the Kunsthalle art gallery and 40 public and private museums. Of outstanding quality: Hamburg's State Opera Ballet directed by John Neumeier, the Thalia Theatre and the Hamburger Kunsthalle (above) with international modern art in the gallery of contemporary art designed by architect Oswald Mathias Unger.
