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Germany
Travel Guide
Hanover
(German: Hannover, French: Hanovre), is the capital of Lower Saxony
(Niedersachsen) in Germany.
 Having a huge
exhibition complex built for the World EXPO in 2000 and being host of
several biggest exhibitions in the world, Hanover calls herself the
"EXPO City" or "Exhibition City" (EXPO
Stadt/Messestadt). Hanover was also one of the host cities of the
football World Cup 2006. The major language spoken is German. English is
not common, except during CeBIT or major international event.
Hanover
is not a typical European city. Don't expect to see beautiful
centuries-old buildings; the city was one of the hardest hit during the
World War II, leaving it with only a few historical landmarks. Even the
Old City (Altstadt) area is "new"; all the old houses
left standing after the war (around 40) were taken from throughout the
city and collected in one place.
Hanover
has large green areas, with forests and big parks. The landscape is
mostly flat, with the river Leine going through the city. The lake Masch
(Maschsee) is rather spectacular, considering its size as a man-made
object.
The
city had a special relationship to the late French artist Niki de
Saint-Phalle. She had several of her works in public spots in Hanover
(i.e., "the Nanas", "the Cave" in the Great Garden)
and also in the Sprengel Museum. To honor her contribution to Hanover,
she was granted an honorary citizenship from the city government.
Moreover, the recently renovated "underground" shopping
passageway from the central station to Kröpcke was named "The
Niki de Saint-Phalle Promenade".
Hanover's
public services are excellent, due to major reconstruction for the World
EXPO 2000. The shopping area under the train station was renovated in
2005-2006 in preparation for the football World Cup 2006.
Kröpcke
Kröpcke
is a large pedestrian area in the heart of Hanover. It is Hanover's major
shopping spot and has lots of eating possibilities. The underground tram
station is the crossing point of all underground trams. Two tram lines
that never go underground (10, 17) ran nearby (stops at 'Hauptbahnhof' or
'Steintor'). There is a big green clock in Kröpcke (KröpckeUhr) which
serves as a meeting point. The Opera House is also located here.
Attractions
and things to do:
 The Great
Garden of Herrenhausen (Herrenhäuser Gärten). The world-famous baroque gardens of Herrenhausen
were created in the 17th century to copy the Versailles Garden in
France. A must see! Even in the winter one can still see its beauty,
but it reaches its best at the end of spring until end of summer.
There is also a glimmering cave decorated by Niki de Saint Phalle.
Getting There: By tram, go to stop named "Herrenhauser
Garten". By car, "Herrenhauser Str. 4, 30419". - Castle Marienburg (Schloss Marienburg). Marienburg 1, 30982
Pattensen (20km south of Hanover). Daily 10AM-6PM, April to
November. €4.50 adult, €3 7-16, €2 up to 6.
- Sea Life.
Herrenhäuser Straße 4a (Tram 4 or 5, stop: Herrenhäuser Gärten) Is
open from 10am daily. For exact opening times, call +49-511- 123300
, [hannover@sealife.de].
- Hannover Zoo is very modern and supposed to be one of the
best in Europe. The ticket is pricey but should be worth for a whole
day of fun. Day tickets cost €18.
- City Hall (Neues Rathaus). See the models of Hanover at four different
points in history: 1600s, 1939, 1945, and 2000, and then go to the
dome.
- The Nanas,
at the Leibnizufer. Giant sculptures made by Niki de Saint
Phalle.
- University of Hannover. The main building was the winter palace of the
Kings of Hannover. (The summer palace was in the Great Garden
complex. However, it was destroyed during the World War II. Now only
one wall remains.)
- Leibniz House, in Holzmarkt near the Historical Museum. The
house where Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz lived during the later part of
his life.
- City park (Stadtpark), Theodor-Heuss-Platz 1-3 (Tram 10, direction Zoo,
stop: Congress Centrum/Stadthalle.). This is worth visiting on a
nice sunny day. Good place to relax with a good book. This is a
favourite place of the elderly people, that is why this is a great
hideaway from the crowded city center.
- Tiergarten,
Tiergartenstraße 149. A 112 hectares of recreational forest.
- List,
a residential area not so far from the Central Station. This area is
popular among students and it has a nice pedestrian areas with some
small interesting shops.
- Eilenriede.
650 hectares of city forest, very unique considering its size and
locataion in the middle of the city.
- Home of Baron Munchhausen - in Bodenwerder - a village not far from
Hannover (about 20 km south-east of Hamelin)
- The Tourism Office (nearby Central Station), has self-guiding maps.
Follow the red line which starts from the exit of the Tourism
Office. The red line will pass all the major attractions of Hanover
and can be completed on foot in 1.5 hours. Refer to the map for
explanation everytime a number on the red line is encountered.
- Walk or jog around the Maschsee,
especially in the summer. In a (rare) very cold winter, the surface
of the lake will be frozen and thick enough for ice skating. Make
sure to join thousands of people there during this not-so-often
time.
Museums
Many
museums (including the Landesmuseum, the Historical Museum, and the
Kestner Museum) can be visited for free on Friday.
- Landesmuseum
- Historical Museum
- Sprengel Museum, Kurt-Schwitters-Platz, (any tram to
Aegidientorplatz then walk 10 min to the direction of the lake, or
Bus 131 from Kröpcke to stop Maschsee/Sprengel Museum)
+49-511-16843875, fax +49-511-16845093. Tu 10AM-8PM, W-Su 10AM-6PM.
Should not be missed by modern art lovers. Hosted a great number of
art objects from the modern era (20th century). Objects include
works from Picasso, Paul Klee, Niki de Saint-Phalle. €7 (adults), €4
(students, seniors, unemployed).
- Wilhelm-Busch Museum, in Georgengarten, within the Great Garden (Tram
4 or 5 (Direction Garbsen/Stöcken) to stop Wilhelm-Busch Museum).
Tu-F 11AM–5PM, Sa/Su/holiday 11AM–6PM. This museum hosts
the unique collection of Busch’s work and other's satirical and
humorous art. It is respected as the German Museum of Caricature and
Critical Graphic Arts. €4.50, €10 family, €2.50 reduced.
- Blindenmuseum Hannover, Bleekstraße 22, +49-511-52470. The museum hosts
objects showing how blind people have been educated between 1843 and
today. Free admission, but open only by appointment.
- Kestner-Museum, Trammplatz 3, (Bus 131/132 stop:
Aegidientorplatz, Bus 120 stop: Friedrichswall/Culemannstraße, Bus
250 stop: Bleichenstraße), +49-511-16842120. Tu/Th-Su 11AM-6PM, W
11AM-8PM. Objects include ones from ancient Egyptian, Roman and
Greek from the Middle Ages to the present times. €3.
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