FERRY ACROSS THE ELBE TO LUCKY CITY
Glückstadt - Herring, Cycling, and the Market
A
drive north from Hamburg takes you along the Elbe River where it widens
into a broad marsh and
flatland
in the
German state of Schleswig-Holstein,
a land of farms (where the Holstein cow came from), thatched roofed houses,
river wildlife and ferries across the flat Elbe. About 20 miles from
Altona, the town of Glückstadt is on the eastern bank of the broad
Elbe where it meets the tributary river Rhin. Originally part of Denmark,
Glückstadt, whose name means “Lucky City” was founded
in 1617 by Danish King Christian IV as a trading port to compete with
Hanseatic Hamburg. The area became known as an exporter of processed
meat sent to America from the 1830’s until the turn of the century.
Continually claimed by Denmark, Sweden, the Holy Roman Empire, Austria
and Prussia since the 15th Century, the city and the area was finally
annexed into Prussia in 1866, but after WWI, the northern section of
the Schleswig peninsula known as the Jutland was taken by Denmark and
the lower by Germany.
A visit to Glückstadt’s town square market place is a journey
back to the traditional early days, where peddlers trade meats, fish,
fresh vegetables and other local goods in a style which hasn’t
changed much in 100 years, surrounded by narrow historic streets with
a unique architectural style dating back to the 17th Century. It also
hosts open air opera performances in the summer as well as other events.
And don’t forget to sample the special kind of herring dish created
here, Glückstädter Matjes. The old town’s narrow waterfront
harbor canal is lined with beautiful buildings and the masts of classic
sailing ships and fishing vessels. A peaceful spot for a romantic dinner
along the Elbe River.
And
for pedalers of the bicycle kind, the Elbe-River Cycling Path which follows
the meandering river
for
600 miles of its length from the German
border with the Czech Republic runs through Glückstadt and ends
across the Elbe at Cuxhaven. Take the ferry crossing to Altendorf Wischhafen.
If you don’t want to drive, Glückstadt lies along the rail
line from Itzehoe to Elmshorn. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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REEPERBAHN
