Hamburg – Hamburg Museum of History (Burnt Things)

There was a very large fire in Hamburg in 1842, which started a cigar factory and managed to destroy a third of the city and kill over fifty people. In today’s money, the damage done was around €1 billion, with numerous churches being destroyed, as well as the City Hall.

There are some exhibits in Hamburg Museum which come from that fire, items all fused together from the heat of the inferno. They’re quite a reminder of what must have been a terrifying time for the city. I think I’d have been quite irritated if I had owned all the coins which got melted together and probably had a go at trying to chip some of them off in a desperate bid to use them.