“Is this the highest peak in Hamburg?” a young boy on the hiking trail near the Hasselbrack asked his father, pointing towards the trees. “Higher than any building?” His father chuckled, “Yes, indeed, son. This is the Hasselbrack, king of the Hamburg hills.” Hasselbrack, a seemingly modest peak at 116.2 meters above sea level, is indeed the highest point in Hamburg, Germany. Located on the southern border with Lower Saxony, in the Schwarze Berge (Black Hills), Hasselbrack is a northern outlier of the Harburg Hills. It sits within the Rosengarten State Forest, close to the Daerstorf Heath, nestled between Waldfrieden to the north, Neu Wulmstorf-Tempelberg to the west, and Rosengarten-Alvesen to the east. Don’t expect a grand vista. The actual “summit” is a somewhat hidden trigonometric point, marked in the woods, just a few meters from the footpath. If you happen to visit after 2013, look for the summit obelisk marking this unassuming high point. This wasn’t always the marker. Until 2013, a simple wooden summit cross stood in its place, erected on July 16, 2011. While Hasselbrack may not boast the dramatic heights of the Alps, its quiet presence offers a unique perspective on Hamburg’s landscape, a gentle giant overseeing the city’s sprawl. So, take a deep breath of fresh forest air at Hasselbrack’s summit. You are officially standing on the highest point in Hamburg.
Allerheiligen Kirche
Hidden within Hamburg’s Neugraben-Fischbek district lies the Allerheiligen Kirche. It serves as a spiritual home for Ukrainian immigrants. The Allerheiligen