On the Spielbudenplatz, just a few minutes' walk from the ARCOTEL Onyx in Hamburg, you will find the Panoptikum, one of the oldest waxworks in Germany. It was established in 1879 by Friedrich Hermann Faerber and is now managed by the fourth generation of the family in the shape of Dr. Hayo Faerber.
130 years ago, wax figures of famous people, including criminals and rare sights such as "dwarves" and "giants", were the only way for many people to actually see these persons first-hand. Most of the press was just text, no pictures, and all other media had yet to be invented.
The Panoptikum is the only wax museum from this time that is still in operation. However, there are not only historical figures on display, the exhibits are constantly expanded with new additions, such as Karl Lagerfeld, Lena Meyer-Landrut or Robbie Williams.
Of course, situated on "Spielbudenplatz" the link to the Reeperbahn and St. Pauli is important. Here you can meet local legends such as Anita Niehoff, who was known as "Domenica", not to mention Hans Albers and Freddy Quinn. And Udo Lindenberg, or his wax double, invites you to come and meet him on his beloved "Geile Meile" (Sin Street).
One very interesting part of the exhibition is where they show you how the waxworks are made. It takes between nine and twelve months for the artists and sculptors to create a new figure. These hand-made "works of art" are made with an eye for detail in many small, individual steps.
Visiting the Panoptikum is by all means a fantastic experience for both young and old.
And there's only one rule: don't leave your camera at home!
130 years ago, wax figures of famous people, including criminals and rare sights such as "dwarves" and "giants", were the only way for many people to actually see these persons first-hand. Most of the press was just text, no pictures, and all other media had yet to be invented.
The Panoptikum is the only wax museum from this time that is still in operation. However, there are not only historical figures on display, the exhibits are constantly expanded with new additions, such as Karl Lagerfeld, Lena Meyer-Landrut or Robbie Williams.
Of course, situated on "Spielbudenplatz" the link to the Reeperbahn and St. Pauli is important. Here you can meet local legends such as Anita Niehoff, who was known as "Domenica", not to mention Hans Albers and Freddy Quinn. And Udo Lindenberg, or his wax double, invites you to come and meet him on his beloved "Geile Meile" (Sin Street).
One very interesting part of the exhibition is where they show you how the waxworks are made. It takes between nine and twelve months for the artists and sculptors to create a new figure. These hand-made "works of art" are made with an eye for detail in many small, individual steps.
Visiting the Panoptikum is by all means a fantastic experience for both young and old.
And there's only one rule: don't leave your camera at home!
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