The ancient German city of Hannover attracts tourists with amazing architectural sights, a unique mixture of modernity and the Middle Ages, festivals and colorful national holidays.
Despite the fact that during World War II, most of the old buildings in Hanover were destroyed, in the Alstadt remained examples of medieval architecture, as an island of living history. Many monuments have been restored from old blueprints. In addition, the attention of tourists attracted by modern entertainment centers, exhibitions of classical and contemporary art.
Historical facts about Hannover
The first mention of the city occurs in written sources from the 12th century. But archaeological evidence supports the theory that the area was densely populated before. Hanover began with the building of a castle on the banks of the Line. It occupied a strategically advantageous position, overlooking the valley and offering an excellent view of the surrounding countryside. A settlement was gradually formed around the fortress walls, it quickly grew to become one of the largest cities in Lower Saxony.
In the history of Hanover there were many ups and downs, the city was one of the centers of the Reformation, experienced a terrible plague epidemic, which reduced the population by 1/3, was occupied by Napoleon and even served as a separate kingdom. The period of independence did not last long, and in 1866 Hanover was annexed to Prussia.
After World War II Hannover was not just rebuilt, but changed the concept of development, moving the old buildings in the center, re-planned the development and prospects for the city, taking into account the convenience of residents, places for parks and recreational areas.
Top 9 attractions in Hannover
The city is considered a cultural center. In it with a pure German pedantry developed tourist routes to attractions, created tips, following which is simply impossible to get lost.
Red Thread” route
The most famous tourist route is called the “red thread”. It is designed in the style of a walking tour, its main purpose – to introduce visitors to the most interesting objects of the city.
The average walking time is 2.5 hours, during which you can see 36 sights, the length of the route – 4 km.
The journey starts from Ernst-August Square, all landmarks in Hannover are numbered and neatly entered into the guidebook along with photos and a brief description in several languages, including Russian. Therefore, when you see a monument or architectural ensemble, it is impossible to go wrong.
“The Red Line” consistently leads past the most significant monuments, to which we can safely include:
- the old and new town halls;
- Opera Theater;
- Market Square;
- Church of St. Aegidius;
- Sprengel Museum;
- Beginen and Dören towers;
- Kröpke Square;
- Marienburg Castle;
- Leibniz’s house.
August Kästner Museum
The city has many museums, with exhibits ranging from the Paleolithic to modern art. In their halls are constantly working traveling exhibitions, creative meetings and interactive presentations, guided tours, thematic lectures.
The building looks very original. To preserve the facade and the wings of the building, they were protected with special glass. The Neo-Renaissance style perfectly reflects the focus of the exhibition. Its basis was created from two private collections: Kestner and Kuhlemann.
Collections are made up of 4 areas:
- antique objects;
- the culture of ancient Egypt;
- samples of decorative and applied art;
- coins over a period of 2,600 years.
In the halls you can see majolica, colored crystal, monastery embroidery, faience, and furniture from the 16th-19th centuries.
Wilhelm Busch Museum
Lift your spirits and give a powerful charge of positivity acquaintance with the works of the famous cartoonist. In addition, there are sketches, sketches, and finished works by other famous masters of satirical drawing: James Gilray, William Hogarth, Paul Weber, and Francisco de Goya.
William Busch created more than 1,000 paintings, but he is best known for his short couplets, most of which have become proverbs or quotations. The collection of satirical graphics is interesting as an ancestor of modern comics.
Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen
There are many green areas in the city, and they occupy a large area. Several famous natural parks, such as the Serengeti, are located outside the city limits. A distinctive feature of this park was the extreme degree of freedom for herbivores, even predators were kept behind symbolic fences. Therefore, movement is possible only in specially equipped vehicles. Among the parks there are very famous, the fame of which has crossed the city and country.
The Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen once surrounded the palace of the same name, which was destroyed during the war. The complex was founded in the 17th century, occupies an area of 50 hectares and is considered a fine example of landscape and park culture. It is divided into four zones.
The large garden is in the Baroque style. Correct clear lines of planting, beautiful fountains and sculptures, smooth alleys, exquisite design of lawns and flower beds strikes the imagination with the skill of specialists, for a long time is remembered for its beauty and proportionality.
A favorite picnic spot for townspeople was the George and Gwelff Gardens. The Berggarten garden served as the kitchen garden of the castle. Now the emphasis is not on vegetables, but on the cultivation of fruit trees and rare plant species. The gallery built on the site of the palace houses a small museum, and the summer theater, which survived the bombing, still gives performances.
Railway station
The city is very easy to navigate, especially with a detailed guidebook in hand. So you can safely go for a walk and look for the most interesting objects.
Lower Saxony’s largest transportation hub has a clear layout that successfully redirects large flows of passengers without creating chaos and crowds. The underpass leads directly to the boarding platforms, ensuring safety. There is almost no need to run on foot, there are elevators and escalators everywhere.
The first building was built in a mix of classical and romantic styles in 1847. It was rebuilt several times to meet the demands of the times. During the last reconstruction, shopping areas were added, and two bicycle rental shops were opened near the station.
Kröpke Watch
They were installed by Conrad Ertl in the square in 1885 and have imperceptibly become one of the symbols of the city. At the clock often have dates, hold rallies and public festivities. The original version of the mechanism perished during the war. They were rebuilt and put back in their old place.
Sprengel Museum
Its halls contain one of the best collections of contemporary art. A staircase leads to the entrance, reminiscent of Salvador Dali’s Soft Clock in its fluid shapes and swirling outlines. It opened in 1979, but the collection was expanding at such a rapid pace that it soon had to be expanded.
The most famous exhibits were works by Marc Chagall, Kazimir Malevich, Pablo Picasso and Max Beckmann. A reproduction of Kurt Schwitters’ Merzbau is considered the gem of the collection. In addition to paintings, there are installations by modern German authors.
Waterloo Column
To commemorate Napoleon’s last victory, the architect Lavers created a brilliant monument, erected in 1832 on the square of the same name. Its height reaches 46 meters, the column is crowned with a statue of the goddess of victory. A few years ago it was possible to go up to the observation deck, but after the beginning of reconstruction the entrance is temporarily closed.
Monument to Ernst August I
Equestrian sculptures of heroes and rulers were popular in ancient Rome. Fashion has passed through the centuries and is embodied in many monuments. A striking example and well-known landmark in Hanover and Germany is the monument created in 1861 according to a sketch by Carl Conrad Wolf. Ernst Augustus was popular with the people for permanently residing on his property, as reflected in the inscription on the monument.
The original meeting place of the locals is called “under the tail.” This means to come to the equestrian statue and stand on the other side of the head. This expresses the peculiar sense of humor of the Hanoverians.
Best time to go to Hannover
It depends on the purpose of the visit. If you want to get to the famous Oktoberfest, you should plan a trip for October. The holiday lasts for 17 days, so there’s a good chance to participate. For the finale of the fireworks festival, which is held at the Royal Gardens, you must go in September.
And when you want to dive into the pre-Christmas rush and visit the traditional Christmas markets, you have to postpone the vacation until early November.
Preparations for Christmas in Europe begin in November, gradually gaining momentum and reaching the peak of fun on the night of December 24-25.
Generally recognized tourist season lasts from May to the last days of September. The weather is quite pleasant, a lot of sunny days, which will fully carry out a cultural and entertainment program.
Hannover, the city of exhibitions, festivals and celebrations, is waiting for its guests, promising an unforgettable experience.
