Miniatur Wunderland

In the summer of 2000, Frederik Braun, one of the four founders of Miniatur Wunderland, was on vacation in Zurich. In a local model train store he came up with the idea for the world's largest model railway.{{Cite web |url=http://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/anlage/daten/geschichte/idee/ |title=Die Idee |trans-title=The Idea |language=de |access-date=2020-12-20 |archive-date=2018-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807033333/https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/anlage/daten/geschichte/idee/ |url-status=dead }} Back in Hamburg, he searched for email addresses online and started a survey on the popularity of real and fictional sights of the city. In the process, the Miniatur Wunderland, which did not yet exist, was ranked 3 by male respondents.{{clarify|date=September 2023}}

According to Braun and his twin brother Gerrit, the initial idea and business plan for Miniatur Wunderland fit on just two pages.{{Cite web|url=https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article198937/Ein-Maerchen-im-Massstab-1-87.html|title=Ein Märchen im Maßstab 1:87|trans-title=A fairy tale in 1:87th scale|language=de|first=Simone|last=Meyer|date=February 17, 2006|via=www.welt.de|access-date=December 20, 2020|archive-date=March 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310163045/https://www.welt.de/print-welt/article198937/Ein-Maerchen-im-Massstab-1-87.html|url-status=live}} The financial backer was Hamburger Sparkasse.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bg-hamburg.de/cms_de-sta_art-710-20-22/Miniatur-Wunderland.html |title=Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg GmbH|access-date=2020-12-20 |archive-date=2009-10-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091025090910/http://www.bg-hamburg.de/cms_de-sta_art-710-20-22/Miniatur-Wunderland.html |url-status=dead |language=de }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/austausch/wunderland-informationen/|title=Über das Wunderland|trans-title=About the wonderland|language=de|website=Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg|access-date=2020-12-20|archive-date=2020-11-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107034951/https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/austausch/wunderland-informationen/|url-status=live}}

File:Hamburg, Speicherstadt, Block D+L -- 2023 -- 6577.jpg

After construction began in December 2000, the first three sections (Knuffingen, Central Germany and Austria) opened on 16 August 2001. Since then, several sections have been added. With the completion of the Hamburg, German Coast section in November 2002, Wunderland became the largest model railroad in Europe. The United States was added in December 2003, followed by Scandinavia in July 2005. On 10 September 2015, the Brauns added the final piece of track between the Switzerland section and a new Italy section, extending the track length from {{convert|13,000|meters}} to {{convert|15,400|meters}}. An observing Guinness judge presented the certificate for the newly established world record.{{Cite web |url=http://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/news/anlage/meldung/artikel/eigenen-weltrekord-gebrochen-jetzt-sind-wir-noch-groessere-modelleisenbahn-der-welt/ |title=Newsmeldung Anlage - Modellbau Modelleisenbahn Hamburg |access-date=2020-12-20 |archive-date=2018-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101174921/http://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/news/anlage/meldung/artikel/eigenen-weltrekord-gebrochen-jetzt-sind-wir-noch-groessere-modelleisenbahn-der-welt/ |url-status=live }}

The {{convert|190|m2|abbr=on}} Bella Italia section was opened on 28 September 2016 after four years under construction, involving 180,000 man hours and costing around €4 million.{{Cite web |url=http://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/news/anlage/meldung/artikel/bella-italia-im-wunderland/ |title=Newsmeldung Anlage - Modellbau Modelleisenbahn Hamburg |access-date=2020-12-20 |archive-date=2018-01-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106221300/http://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/news/anlage/meldung/artikel/bella-italia-im-wunderland/ |url-status=live }} Work on the Monaco / Provence section started in August 2019 and, when completed, added another {{convert|315| meters}}. As of 2019, the total length of {{convert|15,715|meters}} therefore corresponded to {{convert|1,367.21|km}} in real length, making Miniatur Wunderland the largest model railway layout in the world by all measures.{{Cite web |date=14 August 2019 |title=Miniatur Wunderland wächst immer weiter |url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/Miniatur-Wunderland-waechst-immer-weiter%2Cminiaturwunderland282.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814204532/https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/hamburg/Miniatur-Wunderland-waechst-immer-weiter,miniaturwunderland282.html |archive-date=14 August 2019 |access-date=2020-12-20 |website=NDR |language=de}}

In 2020, a bridge connected the original Wunderland to a building across the canal.{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2020 |title=Speicherstadt: Warum das Hamburger Weltkulturerbe eine neue Brücke bekommt |url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/hamburg/article211662697/Speicherstadt-Warum-das-Hamburger-Weltkulturerbe-eine-neue-Bruecke-bekommt.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923140552/https://www.welt.de/regionales/hamburg/article211662697/Speicherstadt-Warum-das-Hamburger-Weltkulturerbe-eine-neue-Bruecke-bekommt.html |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |access-date=21 September 2023 |via=www.welt.de}} The new space features depictions of Antarctica and South America, including Rio de Janeiro.{{Cite web |title=Rio de Janeiro |url=https://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/discover-wunderland/worlds/rio/ |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg |language=en}} Construction on Monaco and Provence, featuring a Formula One circuit, was concluded in 2024.{{Cite web |title=Monaco Highlights - 2024 Miniature Grand Prix - Miniatur Wunderland |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqT0u6QDJtg |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=Youtube | date=25 April 2024 |language=de}}{{Cite web |title=Monaco & die Provence |url=https://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/discover-wunderland/worlds/monaco-provence/ |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg |language=en}}

Other future projects include Central America/Caribbean and Asia. The creators say construction on Great Britain will begin in 2028.{{Cite web |title=Die Zukunft des Wunderlandes |url=https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/austausch/wunderland-informationen/zukunft/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024210441/https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/austausch/wunderland-informationen/zukunft/ |archive-date=2020-10-24 |access-date=2020-12-20 |website=Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg}}

File:Leitstand Miniatur Wunderland.jpg

Visitors explore different rooms throughout a long corridor. Trains run along the walls of the rooms and on peninsula-like protrusions. The layout consists (as of September 2016) of nine completed sections of {{convert|60|to|300|m2|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/wunderland-entdecken/welten/|title=Welten|website=Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg|access-date=2020-12-20|archive-date=2020-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111232004/https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/wunderland-entdecken/welten/|url-status=live}}

• The first three sections were created simultaneously, showing central and southern Germany with the Harz mountains and featuring a long ICE-high speed train track.
• The fictional town of Knuffingen features a road system with moving cars.
• The Austria section involved the implementation of the Alps theme, including a multi-level helix from which trains from the other sections change corridor sides above the heads of visitors.
• The next stage of expansion includes the section with the theme Hamburg, German Coast.
• The United States section includes Las Vegas, Miami, some Wild West, another system with moving cars and a spaceport.
• The Scandinavia section has a real water area: in the future,{{when|date=July 2024}} computer-controlled ships will operate in the {{convert|30,000|liter}} "North Sea" sea tub. At present,{{when|date=July 2024}} they are still controlled manually. Tides are also simulated here.
• The Swiss Alps, extending over two floors, are modeled on the landscapes of the cantons of Ticino, Grisons and Wallis and were completed in November 2007. Through a hole in the ceiling on a total area of {{convert|100|m2|abbr=on}} the mountains reach almost {{convert|6| meters|spell=on}} in height. Visitors reach this new level via stairs, while trains negotiate the height differences in concealed switchbacks and in a locomotive lift.
• The Knuffingen Airport section was opened in May 2011 after around six years in construction and development and an investment of 3.5 million euros. On display is a {{convert|150|m2|abbr=on}} airport with a globally unique airport control system.
• A small section forms the Hamburg HafenCity with the Elbphilharmonie concert hall. Planning began in May 2012 and construction began in August the same year. A total of {{convert|9|m2|spell=on}} were available, and 10 selected houses were built on this area. The opening was on 13 November 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF5LMRM68sk|title=MiWuLa TV Report - Die kleine Elbphilharmonie: Der Tag der Eröffnung - YouTube|website=www.youtube.com|date=25 November 2013 |access-date=2020-12-20|archive-date=2014-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512153138/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF5LMRM68sk|url-status=live}}
• In 2014, a trip was made to Italy to gain lots of impressions of the country. These were brought into the 9th construction section Italy. In this section, some sights of Rome as well as landscapes like Tuscany or the lava-spewing Vesuvius can be seen. The construction section was presented in a specially created blog and opened in September 2016.{{Cite web |url=http://italien.miniatur-wunderland.de/ |title=Bella Italia 2.1 | der 9. Bauabschnitt des Miniatur Wunderlandes |access-date=2020-12-20 |archive-date=2020-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022061522/https://italien.miniatur-wunderland.de/ |url-status=live }}
• In February 2018, the Venice section was opened at only {{convert|9|m2|abbr=on}} in size. Involving around 35,000 man hours, it is the most elaborate section in relation to its size.

File:Werkstatt Miniatur Wunderland.jpg

Special features include a simulated daily routine where twilight, night and day repeat every 15 minutes. This includes an automatic lighting control system that activates more than 300,000 lights to match the time of day.

The {{convert|120|m2|adj=mid}} fantasy town of Knuffingen, with a population of about 6,000, is equipped with more than 100 moving model cars, including numerous fire engines, which are used to simulate a firefighting operation in Knuffingen every 15 minutes on average. Traffic simulation is made possible by a modified car system that is also used in the USA, Scandinavia and Knuffingen Airport sections. In the America section, an Interstate Highway is equipped with a dynamic Traffic Control System, which uses variable-message signs with 2x16 characters, lane use control lights, and 4 different speed limits to control traffic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/wochenbericht-2004/nr-191/|title=Wochenbericht Nr. 191|website=Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg|access-date=2020-12-20|archive-date=2019-08-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804201248/https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/wochenbericht-2004/nr-191/|url-status=live}}

Intricate details include a changing scoreboard in the Volkspark Stadium, speeding cameras and a crashed cheese wheel truck. There is also a Jet gas station displaying the real current gasoline prices of its prototype in Hamburg's Amsinck street.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jet-tankstellen.de/|title=JET Tankstellen : Schlauer ist das|website=www.jet-tankstellen.de|access-date=2020-12-20|archive-date=2020-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218080250/https://www.jet-tankstellen.de/|url-status=live}}

Visitors can control operations on the system through about 200 push-buttons, including options to start a mine train, turn wind turbines, trigger a goal in the football stadium, launch a helicopter or the Space Shuttle, or elongate Pinocchio's nose. One button allows visitors to watch the simulated production of a small chocolate bar in a factory, resulting in a block of Lindt chocolate dispensed for the visitor to sample.{{Cite web|url=https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/wunderland-entdecken/technik/sonstiges/knopfdruckaktionen/|title=Knopfdruckaktionen|website=Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg|access-date=2020-12-20|archive-date=2020-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927123648/https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/wunderland-entdecken/technik/sonstiges/knopfdruckaktionen/|url-status=live}}

Certain tours also include a behind-the-scenes look at detailed figures that cannot be seen from the normal public area.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/Y3JpZDovL25kci5kZS9hNGZlNjkwZi1iZTdkLTQ0NWUtOGZjMi1kYmUxNmUxNmUxMWU |title=Die Nordreportage: 24 Stunden im Wunderland - hier anschauen |language=de |access-date=2024-12-06 |via=www.ardmediathek.de}}

After six years in planning and under construction, Knuffingen airport was officially opened to visitors on 4 May 2011 as a special section of the facility. Its buildings resemble Hamburg Airport. As in the fictional main town of Knuffingen, there is also a simulation of a fire department with a large fleet of vehicles, including four airfield fire engines. On the {{convert|14|meter|adj=mid}} runway, aircraft models accelerate to scale on an invisible sled, and by means of two guide rods can lift off the ground and disappear into a wall. Depending on the launch phase, the guide rods allow a horizontal tilt of the aircraft that approximates reality.

The section features a wide variety of standard commercial aircraft, including Boeing 747, Boeing 787, Airbus A350 and Airbus A380, in the liveries of active and defunct airlines from around the world. There is also a Concorde in British Airways livery, a Space Shuttle, a bee (named "Bummel") and a model of the Millennium Falcon spaceship from Star Wars.

The movement of the aircraft on the ground is realized with the help of technology based on the car system. The vehicles in the airport tell their own little stories with coordinated refueling, loading and unloading before and after landing starting from the aircraft parking positions.

A real-time live timetable is displayed on screens and online, synchronizing the miniature airport's aircraft movements with scheduled arrivals and departures. {{cite web |title=Live timetable Knuffingen Airport|url=https://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/wunderland-entdecken/welten/flughafen-knuffingen-airport/flugplan-abflug/| website=Miniatur Wunderland| access-date=30 May 2025}}

Unlike the other landscapes, the railroad at the airport is hardly visible. There is only an airport station underground.

According to the operators, the {{convert|150|m2|adj=mid}} space cost around 3.5 million euros, in addition to 150,000 man hours. The area is equipped not only with many rolling aircraft models, but also with hundreds of cars, passenger boarding bridges, parking garages, airport hotels, a subway and individual figures.

On 5 December 2012, the ten-millionth visitor came to Miniatur Wunderland{{Cite web |date=5 December 2012 |title=Zehnmillionster Besucher im Miniatur Wunderland |url=http://www.ndr.de/regional/hamburg/miniaturwunderland167.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118071844/http://www.ndr.de/regional/hamburg/miniaturwunderland167.html |archive-date=18 January 2013 |access-date=20 August 2020 |website=NDR |language=de}} and on 2 December 2016, the fifteen-millionth.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/hamburg-mitte/hafencity/article208856357/Miniaturwunderland-will-heute-einen-Jubilaeumsgast-feiern.html|title=Miniaturwunderland feiert den 15-millionsten Besucher|first=Hamburger Abendblatt-|last=Hamburg|date=December 2, 2016|website=www.abendblatt.de|access-date=December 20, 2020|archive-date=August 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807050015/https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/hamburg-mitte/hafencity/article208856357/Miniaturwunderland-will-heute-einen-Jubilaeumsgast-feiern.html|url-status=live}} Around three quarters of visitors come from Germany, while the remaining quarter hail mainly from Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, England, the US and China.{{Cite web |url=https://presse.miniatur-wunderland.de/2016/1108/miniatur-wunderland-erwartet-15-millionsten-besucher/ |title=Miniatur Wunderland erwartet 15. Millionsten Besucher | Miniatur Wunderland |date=December 2016 |access-date=2020-12-20 |archive-date=2018-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807001745/https://presse.miniatur-wunderland.de/2016/1108/miniatur-wunderland-erwartet-15-millionsten-besucher/ |url-status=live }}

In 2010, founders Frederik and Gerrit Braun and Stephan Hertz were awarded the Cross of Merit on Ribbon of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for their social commitment.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hamburg.de/pressearchiv-fhh/2187214/2010-03-26-bksm-miniaturwunderland.html |title=Miniatur Wunderland-Macher für soziales Engagement ausgezeichnet - hamburg.de |access-date=2020-12-20 |archive-date=2018-08-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807064333/https://www.hamburg.de/pressearchiv-fhh/2187214/2010-03-26-bksm-miniaturwunderland.html |url-status=live }} The Miniatur Wunderland also holds the Guinness World Record for "longest melody played by a model train."{{Cite web|title=Longest melody played by a model train|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/649714-longest-melody-played-by-a-model-train|access-date=2021-04-20|website=Guinness World Records|language=en-GB}}

Several times following completion of the various expansion stages, the Hamburg section was visited by a team of reporters from Eisenbahn-Romantik from SWR. Numerous television stations, magazines and newspapers have reported on Miniatur Wunderland.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARHDH9BhPA4 |title=TINY WONDERS ; BIG IMPACT: Miniatur Wunderland Unveiled {{!}} WELT Documentary |language=en |access-date=2024-03-30 |via=www.youtube.com}}

In May 2009, rapper Samy Deluxe filmed a portion of the music video for the song "Stumm" in Miniatur Wunderland. About 100 sequences were recorded in which a miniature figure "runs" (stop-motion) through the layout.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stephan-hertz.de/blog/modelleisenbahn-meets-hip-hop-samy-deluxe/|title=Modelleisenbahn meets Hip-Hop: Samy Deluxe | | Hertz-lich gebloggt...|website=www.stephan-hertz.de|date=7 July 2009 |access-date=2020-12-20|archive-date=2018-08-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807001955/https://www.stephan-hertz.de/blog/modelleisenbahn-meets-hip-hop-samy-deluxe/|url-status=live}}

On 5 December 2009, the outdoor betting section of the German television show Wetten, dass..? took place at Miniatur Wunderland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/hamburg/article5445780/Modellbahn-Spektakel-bei-Wetten-dass.html|title=Miniatur Wunderland: Modellbahn-Spektakel bei "Wetten dass...?"|first=Martina|last=Goy|date=December 6, 2009|via=www.welt.de|access-date=December 20, 2020|archive-date=November 30, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130213555/https://www.welt.de/regionales/hamburg/article5445780/Modellbahn-Spektakel-bei-Wetten-dass.html|url-status=live}}

The plot of several episodes of the Hamburg crime series Großstadtrevier takes place at Miniatur Wunderland.

In 2015, together with singer Helene Fischer, a campaign for Ein Herz für Kinder was launched in which over 450,000 euros (as of 01/2016) were collected. The campaign was presented, among others, in the Ein Herz für Kinder Gala.{{Cite web |url=http://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/presse/mitteilungen/pressetext/artikel/farbenspiel-im-wunderland-das-benefizkonzert-im-massstab-187/ |title=Presse Mitteilungen anzeigen - Modellbau Modelleisenbahn Hamburg |access-date=2020-12-20 |archive-date=2016-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724171257/http://www.miniatur-wunderland.de/presse/mitteilungen/pressetext/artikel/farbenspiel-im-wunderland-das-benefizkonzert-im-massstab-187/ |url-status=live }}

In January 2016, Miniatur Wunderland partnered with Google MiniView – a miniature version of Google Street View.{{Cite web|url=http://www.google.com/maps/about/behind-the-scenes/streetview/treks/miniatur-wunderland|title=Google Maps: Miniatur Wunderland Street View|website=Google Maps: Miniatur Wunderland Street View|access-date=2020-12-20|archive-date=2020-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208220553/https://www.google.com/maps/about/behind-the-scenes/streetview/treks/miniatur-wunderland/|url-status=live}}

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• {{Official website|https://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/}}
• [https://www.dw.com/en/miniatur-wunderland-the-worlds-largest-model-railway/video-69335121 Miniatur Wunderland: The world's largest model railway] a short video documentary by Deutsche Welle

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Category:Tourist attractions in Hamburg

Category:Model railroads

Category:Amusement parks opened in 2000

Category:Museums established in 2000

Category:2000 establishments in Germany

Category:Museums in Hamburg

Category:Miniature parks