Discover Germany
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Travel Feature
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Hamburg’s Frühlingsdom
Photo: Pixabay
THE SPRING DOM IN HAMBURG ‘Wo ist der Dom?’ meaning ‘where is the cathedral?’ is one of the first simple sentences that many people learn in German. Ask that question in Bamberg or Cologne and knowledgeable locals will helpfully point you towards their city’s grandest place of worship. But don’t be surprised when the directions you’re given in Hamburg result in you wandering through a busy funfair. TEXT: STUART FORSTER
Hamburg’s Dom is the largest fair in northern Germany and takes place three times a year. This year’s spring edition begins on the 25 March and continues until the 24 April. Summer and winter versions of the Dom also take place for a month. Ask ‘was ist der Dom?’ meaning ‘what is the Dom?’ while in Hamburg and any resident who knows their history may tell you it’s the country’s longest running fair. The event’s origins can be traced to a winter festival in the first half of the 14th century. 52
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Issue 91
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March 2022
In the 1330s, entertainers and merchants gained permission to shelter from harsh winter weather inside of the Marien-Dom – Mary’s Cathedral. That long demolished building should not be confused with the twin-spired St Marien-Dom that today stands in the St Georg district – that far more recently built brickwork place of worship was consecrated in 1893 and elevated to cathedral status in 1995. Throughout the Middle Ages and until much later, the fair continued to be held at the
Marien-Dom. The building was part of the Diocese of Hamburg-Bremen. Yet the bishop’s principal seat was in Bremen and the property in Hamburg was neglected, resulting in the premise’s gradual deterioration. The Marien-Dom remained Roman Catholic while other places of worship in Hamburg became protestant following the Reformation. The building eventually became city property as part of Napoleon Bonaparte’s sweeping secularisation. Requiring significant investment to make repairs, the decision was taken to knock it down. “Over the centuries the term ‘Dom’ got a different meaning. The saying ‘we’re going to the Dom’ no longer meant attending a church service but going to have fun at the Christmas market,” explains Tomas Kaiser, a city guide whose Hamburg tours include architecture and cultural history themed offerings.
