A place of remembrance: the St Nikolai memorial and museum

Highlights

Discover Hamburg the smart way: one ticket – everything included!
This attraction is included in your Hamburg City Pass
No advance booking is required for this attraction – your City Pass is your admission ticket

Hamburg’s central memorial site for the time of the bombings of Hamburg in July and August 1943 in the context of the National Socialist tyranny of the years 1933-1945
Viewing platform at a height of 76 metres with barrier-free panoramic lift
Tower carillon with 51 bells
Museum with the exhibition "Gomorrah 1943 – The destruction of Hamburg in the air war"

What does war mean? You can see it at this historical site

What awaits you on site

During the air raids of the Second World War, the former main church of St Nikolai was largely destroyed. Only the tower, some outer walls and the vaulted cellar still stand and today form the St Nikolai memorial. This is a central place of remembrance for the bombing of Hamburg during the Second World War. The glass panorama lift takes you to the viewing platform at a height of 76 metres in the old church tower.

In the vaulted cellar of the ruins, the permanent exhibition provides an insight into the eventful history of St Nikolai and provides information about the heavy bombing raids during the Second World War. At the centre of the exhibition is "Operation Gomorrah", during which Hamburg was bombed almost non-stop for several days and nights in the summer of 1943, 34,000 people died and entire districts were completely destroyed.

A carillon of 51 bells

A musical highlight is the tower carillon, which was installed in the tower in 1993. It comprises 51 bells, which can be played by hand or via an automatic chime. Every Thursday at 12 noon, there is a free half-hour live concert that can be heard in the square of the former nave.