Elbchaussee

The Elbchaussee became famous as the street of wealthy Hamburg merchants and shipowners. In the magnificent country estates on the banks of the Elbe between Altona and Blankenese, Hamburg’s standing in the world was defined and put on display. Their upper-class lifestyle forms the heart of the Elbchaussee legend. Many of the houses still stand. Some have been lavishly restored and repurposed as shipping offices, elegant hotels and restaurants, and museums open to the public. Who now resides behind the fences, walls and imposing rhododendron hedges, or has built a home hidden away on the banks of the Elbe, remains a mystery to outsiders. This book tells the stories of these people, their rapid social rise, the fairy-tale times, the catastrophes and their sudden downfall, whilst not forgetting to describe what was done to their Jewish neighbours. World-famous artists, poets, painters, writers, composers, philosophers, philanthropists and social reformers also lived here. This book is both a unique illustrated book and a history book. Over 416 pages, the authors describe and illustrate the street from its beginnings right up to the present day. It contains fascinating stories spanning three centuries, many of which have never been told before. Numerous unique historical documents and brilliant photographs, shown here for the first time, create an impressive panorama of the history and present day of the ‘most beautiful street in the world’ (Detlev von Liliencron) in this third edition of the book. The expanded edition of the Hamburg bestseller is published by Wachholtz Verlag.