THE NEIGHBORHOOD
The Schanzenviertel is located on the western edge of the city center and lies between the three districts of St.Pauli, Altona and Eimsbüttel. Since 2008, however, Hamburg-Sternschanze is an official district and belongs to the district Hamburg-Altona. The name "Sternschanze" goes back to a defensive fortification that was placed in front of the Hamburg city wall and was located on the hill in the area of Sternschanzenpark until 1816.
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The Sternschanze train station was opened in 1866 and since then the Schanzenviertel has developed into a residential and commercial area. For example, Carl Hagenbeck opened his zoo at Pferdemarkt, which has since moved to Stellingen, and Steinway & Sons opened its Hamburg branch in the piano factory on Schulterblatt in 1880.
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During the war, the Rote Hof in Bartelsstraße was the center of the workers' movement and resistance in Hamburg against the National Socialists. The political activity in the neighborhood is still noticeable today. After the mid-20th century, many students moved to the neighborhood and a residential area characterized by alternative culture and multiculturalism developed.
With the Internet boom around the year 2000, many new economy companies settled in the region. As a result, the run-down neighborhood of old buildings, some of which were threatened with demolition, became increasingly popular and a gentrification process began that continues to this day. Rents rose enormously and social conflicts arose between residents and newcomers who could afford the expensive rents. Out of this movement, the Rote Flora developed into an autonomous center of a cultural and subculture. The squatted building is centrally located on the Schulterblatt and to this day is known beyond the borders of Hamburg for its left-liberal attitude to life and its alternative fashion and pop culture.
Despite the still ongoing gentrification and the displacement of small, individual stores by large chains and system gastronomy, a great solidarity among the residents and a great loyalty to long-established and owner-operated stores remains noticeable. The residents of the Schanzenviertel love their neighborhood, enjoy being together and the alternative lifestyle, and fight to preserve it. Today, one finds a multicultural, individual and colorful neighborhood, which attracts many people through the large gastronomic and cultural offer and invites them to stroll. Some old-established residents turn up their noses at the number of people on sunny days, but the hospitality remains.The main streets in the Schanzenviertel are the Schulterblatt, Schanzenstraße and Susannen- and Bartelsstraße. Also the adjacent Karolinenviertel with the popular Marktstraße and the Neue Pferdemarkt and Wohlwillstraße, which goes into St.Pauli are streets where you can discover a lot.
The Schanzenviertel is a neighborhood for everyone, you can have a good time here, people watch, enjoy good food and drinks, stroll in the nice stores and even explore Hamburg from here mostly on foot.
We have compiled our favorite places nearby for you and created an interactive list with weekly updated tips. You are welcome to add to this list, because sometimes visitors to Hamburg see a little more than you do.