Davidwache

The Davidwache is a police station in Hamburg-St. Pauli, standing at the corner of Spielbudenplatz and Davidstraße. The building appears in red brick with ceramic decorative elements, designed by Fritz Schumacher, an architect active in the city.

The first police post for St. Pauli opened in 1840 on Kastanienallee. The current building began serving the community on December 10, 1914, and has operated continuously since then.

The name refers to nearby Davidstraße, named after Christian Ludwig David, leading into the heart of the St. Pauli district. The station sits in the lively Kiez area, where visitors often stop outside to look and take photographs without disturbing operations inside.

The station is clearly visible from the outside, but visitors cannot enter or tour the interior because it remains an active duty post. The surrounding area gets very crowded, especially at night and on weekends, so daytime visits allow for quieter photographs.

Paul McCartney and Pete Best from The Beatles spent one night in custody here during their early performances in Hamburg. The episode remains documented in band history and still draws music fans to the site.