Hamm, also known as the City in the Green Heart of Central Westphalia, Germany, is located in the north-eastern part of the Ruhr area. As of December 2003 its population was 182,000, living in an area of 226 sq km. The first Landesgartenschau (horticultural show of the federal state) of North Rhine-Westphalia was held in Hamm in 1984.
How to Get There:
Hamm is located in the middle of three smaller International Airports, the Münster Osnabrück International Airport, Dortmund Airport and Paderborn Lippstadt Airport. The nearest proper International Airport is Düsseldorf International Airport. Hamm has three railway stations, the main railway station Hamm (Westfalen) being of distinctive build. It is well connected by road, with a number of autobahns, state and regional roads passing through. Intra-city transport is also the ubiquitous bus. Hamm is also connected by the "Datteln-Hamm-Kanal", and three ports are situated in the urban district.
What to See:
Hamm was heavily bombed in World War II, and more than half of its buildings destroyed. The medieval St. Paul's Church and parts of the 16th-century St. Agnes' Church survived. Rebuilt, the city houses one of the three Land (State) Courts of Appeal in North-Rhine Westphalia, in a high rise built in 1959, as well as the Land Labour Court, along with lower courts. There is a museum, a music school, a large wooded park,the Kurpark, dating back from a time when Hamm held the status of a 'bad' (spa) with thermal (saline) springs, a zoo, and Maximilian Park, the botanical garden, dominated by Earth's largest glass elephant. Hamm’s main railway station is a masterpiece of design. Hamm is also known for its number of hospitals.
Where to Eat:
Of the 112 rated restaurants in Hamm, the most popular ten are the Enchilada Hamm, CitySchanke, Koennecke, Dasbecker Treff, Cappadocia Kebap Haus, Horster-Grill, Altstadt Eck, 96, D Zug and Dorfeiche.
Schools: Hamm has six Gymnasien (grammar schools), two comprehensive schools and several Realschulen, Hauptschulen and Grundschulen (elementary schools).
Hotels:
Hamm has 72 hotels, in the 2-4 star categories, with prices ranging accordingly. It has motels as well, apart from bed and breakfast establishments. Noted hotels are Mercure, Hammer Brunnen, City Hotel garni, Glitz, Herzog, Alte Mark and the Grüner Baum, among others.
