Can you imagine a football club paying for a friendly match with a concrete sculpture? Right here, in front of the Wappen FC St. Pauli Sculpture, that’s exactly what happened. This impressive emblem of FC St. Pauli stands proudly on the Südkurvenvorplatz, a testament to a rather unusual transaction. The Wappen FC St. Pauli Sculpture isn’t just a piece of concrete. It’s a piece of St. Pauli history, a quirky tale woven into the fabric of this vibrant district. The story goes that shortly after World War II, the president of Rasensport Harburg, also a construction entrepreneur, wanted to organize a friendly match between his club and FC St. Pauli’s “Wunderelf” (wonder eleven). Unable to offer a monetary payment, he proposed a unique deal: a concrete replica of the FC St. Pauli crest. The match never actually took place, but the president kept his word. The Wappen FC St. Pauli Sculpture was delivered and originally placed at the entrance of the old stadium at the corner of Glacischaussee and Budapester Straße. When the Millerntor-Stadion was moved to its current location in the early 1960s, the Wappen FC St. Pauli Sculpture migrated with it, finding its new home on the Südkurvenvorplatz. This three-meter-high monument has witnessed decades of football history, the cheers of victories, the groans of defeats, and the unwavering loyalty of St. Pauli fans. In 2022, the Wappen FC St. Pauli Sculpture received a much-needed facelift. The restoration was carried out by VIVA LA BERNIE, a collective of craftspeople from the St. Pauli district. This project not only revitalized the sculpture but also highlighted the community spirit and social engagement that FC St. Pauli represents. So, next time you’re at a match, take a moment to appreciate the Wappen FC St. Pauli Sculpture. It’s more than just a club emblem. It’s a symbol of a unique history, a testament to a deal made in concrete, a quirky story embedded in the heart of St. Pauli.
Flussschifferkirche
Anchored in time, the Flussschifferkirche floats patiently in Hamburg’s harbor. It’s not just any church. It’s Germany’s only floating church