St. Michael's Church

One of Hamburg's major landmarks, the Lutheran church of Saint Michael was originally built in the early 17th Century. It still stands today, though it has seen many reincarnations since the original church was built. The building was destroyed by lightning in 1661, which led to its baroque-inspired reconstruction in 1786. In 1906 the burnt down church was rebuilt and then was heavily damaged in both World War I and II. Constructed in the honor of Archangel Michael, the entrance of the church is ornamented with a spectacular statue depicting Archangel Michael's victory over the Devil. Despite its tumultuous history, the church's tower continues to offer incredible views of the city and still plays host to a 300-year-old tradition, whereby a trumpet player plays a hymn facing north, then south, then east and west.