The baroque garden and park ensemble of Herrenhausen is Hannovers main green attraction. It's the largest gardens of this kind in Germany, and even though the palace has disappeared, it's still an impressive sight. It is however not the only interesting garden in Hannover and also the Zoo is well worth a visit. The city has lots green spots and small parks where you can have a rest and enjoy a sunny afternoon!
Eilenriede Virtually a "city forest" and Hannover's true "green lung" is the Eilenriede forest. It covers an area of 650 hectares in the middle of the city, which makes it unique in the whole of Europe. Accordingly, the citizens of Hannover are very proud of "their" Eilenriede. The privilege to use and cultivate the Eilenriede as their possession, granted in 1371 by the dukes Wenzeslaus and Albrecht of Sachsen, is the foundation of its development. The forest stretches across the city, almost into the city centre. It takes its name from the alder trees (germ. Erlen or Ellern), which used to grow on its moist, marshy soil. The earlier "Ellernried" eventually became "Eilenriede".
Nowadays, oak and beech trees are the most common in the Eilenriede, pine, larch, alder, birch-trees and other species also grow here in large numbers. The north and inner Eilenriede stretches between Kleefeld and List, the south Eilenriede through Kirchrode and the southern districts of Hannover as far as Waldheim.
Many leisure activities can be undertaken in Eilenriede: you can go for a walk, ride a bicycle or a horse, hike, jog, or just have a picnic - there is something for everyone. Not to mention the fitness trails, forest educational trails, playgrounds, lawns, forest cafeterias and restaurants, numerous monuments and statues, a minigolf course and a toboggan slope. There is a bird sanctuary in the north Eilenriede, and Hannover Zoo borders directly on the forest as well. The leaflet "Kunst auf Schritt und Tritt" ("Art at Every Turn") from the Hannover-Tourist-Information is a perfect companion for a nice stroll in the inner Eilenriede.
Stadtforsttamt (Municipal Forestry Department), is the administrative body in charge of the Eilenriede along with Hannover's other woods and forests. Its main office can be found at Am Pferdeturm, with District Foresters (Revierförsterei) at Tiergarten and in Mecklenheider Forst. To take care of the Eilenriede's special problems Hannover has yet another unique feature: the Eilenriedebeirat (Eilenriede Advisory Board). It was founded in 1950, when the construction of the Messeschnellweg was met by strong protests from the population.
Stadtpark At the back of the city hall is a lovely park and garden with fountains, ponds, lawns, a rose garden and works of art. The "Stadtpark" was designed in 1951 when the first "Bundesgartenschau" took place right here. Numerous attractions derive from that time, like a lot of the sculptures and a bridge leading into the "Eilenriede", the city's forest. There is also a pavilion and a japanese tea house. Visitors of the HCC who stay overnight at the "Hotel am Stadtpark" could miss this lovely park together, because they can use an underground passageway between the city hall and the hotel. But when they look out of the window they have a very good view of the park.
Address: Theodor-Heuss-Platz 1-3, 30175 Hannover Tel: +49 (0)511 / 8113-0 Openings=at daytime, fountains from April to October from 15. 00-17.00
Tiergarten The term "Zoological Garden" often used for "Tiergarten" is not quite appropriate in this case. The 112 hectares of this recreational forest are inhabited by a large number of wild animals, making it one of Hannover's most popular attractions. From the beginning it was not the production of wood, but hunting and the beauty of the wild animals and the forest that stood in the foreground. The Tiergarten was created in 1678/79 by Duke Johan Friedrich for hunting. 120 fallow deer were let free in the forest. This is approximately the number living there today. Unfortunately, Duke Johan Friedrich did not live to enjoy the first hunt, organised in 1680. He died a year earlier during his journey to Italy.
In 1997 a majestic red deer and two graceful hinds were put in the "Hubertus" enclosure, previously inhabited by wild horses. The Tiergarten also provides living space for numerous species of birds and rare bats. The annual Tiergartenfest is a highlight of a special kind, especially for children and families, who are rewarded in that way by the Municipal Forestry Department for the collection of acorns and chestnuts for feeding the wild animals during the winter.
Address: Tiergartenstraße 149, 30559 Hannover Tel: +49-0511 / 526653 Openings=Mon-Fri 06.00 till dusk, weekends 7.00 till dusk Admission=free
Herrenhäuser Garten The baroque garden and park ensemble of Herrenhausen in Hannover is a remarkable example of the traditional art of landscape gardening.The baroque garden ensemble, one of the greatest and most beautiful in Germany, was founded in 1666 by Duke Johann Friedrich of Calenberg. Its preservation and further development are owed mainly to one remarkable woman: Sophie, princess-elect of Hannover and mother of the first "Hanoveranian" on the English throne, was of English descent and needed a garden. And so the baroque ensemble was created, with trees, hedges, numerous special and model gardens, a great fountain with surrounding waterworks, mace garden, open air theatre, many statues and sculptures, cascades, a grotto and a palace (destroyed in 1943), gallery and orangery buildings. In 1936 the Great Garden was restored after being placed under Hannover's municipal administration.
Today, even without the palace, it is one of the city's most popular attractions, with its garden festivals, the baroque fireworks and theatre performances during the summer months.
To the north of the Great Garden we find the Berggarten (the Rock Garden), which used to be the utility or herbal garden for the court. Later it became a botanical garden. The mausoleum in the middle of the garden, built by the noted architect Laves, is the last resting place of the members of Hannover's royal family. A great collection of rare and exotic plants can be found in the greenhouses of the Rock Garden. You can see there not only the largest European collection of orchids, but also one of the most impressive cactus displays of its kind.
You can drive or take a Strassenbahn (tram) if you want to go to the Great Garden from Hannover's city centre. Or you might try an alternative way preferred by many: a walk through the Georgengarten. To the left and right of a two kilometre long lime tree alley lies this grand park with its old trees, green spaces and peaceful places. It is very different from the Great Garden, based strictly upon French and Dutch examples of landscape gardening design, or the Rock Garden, redesigned as a botanical garden. All three together make up a garden ensemble without comparison in entire Germany.
Fountains are spurting from Good Friday until the beginning of october on weekdays from10.30 -12.00; 15.00-17.00 ; Sat, Sun and public holidays 10.30-12 .00; 14-18.00
Address: Herrenhäuser Straße 4, 30419 Hannover Tel: +49-0511 / 168-47576 Openings=daily from 8:00 until early evenings hours Admission=adults DM 5,-, children up to 14 yrs. for free
Hannover Zoo The Zoo was declared an EXPO-Project called "EXPOnat Hannover Zoo" ("Exhibit Hannover Zoo"), with an entirely new concept of visitors' experience. The new attractions like the Gorilla Mountain, Jungle Palace, Meyers Hof, Sambesi and (in the near future) Arktika, were designed as enclosures (rather than the traditional cages) where the animals can live in conditions similar to their natural habitats.
Address: Adenauerallee 3, 30175 Hannover Tel: +49-0511 / 28074-0 URL: http://www.zoo-hannover.de Openings=March to October 9:00-19:00; ticket box cloeses at 17.30; Nov-Febr 9.00-16.00, ticket box closes at 15.00 Admission=adults 19 DM; cildren 17 DM
Eilenriede Virtually a "city forest" and Hannover's true "green lung" is the Eilenriede forest. It covers an area of 650 hectares in the middle of the city, which makes it unique in the whole of Europe. Accordingly, the citizens of Hannover are very proud of "their" Eilenriede. The privilege to use and cultivate the Eilenriede as their possession, granted in 1371 by the dukes Wenzeslaus and Albrecht of Sachsen, is the foundation of its development. The forest stretches across the city, almost into the city centre. It takes its name from the alder trees (germ. Erlen or Ellern), which used to grow on its moist, marshy soil. The earlier "Ellernried" eventually became "Eilenriede".
Nowadays, oak and beech trees are the most common in the Eilenriede, pine, larch, alder, birch-trees and other species also grow here in large numbers. The north and inner Eilenriede stretches between Kleefeld and List, the south Eilenriede through Kirchrode and the southern districts of Hannover as far as Waldheim.
Many leisure activities can be undertaken in Eilenriede: you can go for a walk, ride a bicycle or a horse, hike, jog, or just have a picnic - there is something for everyone. Not to mention the fitness trails, forest educational trails, playgrounds, lawns, forest cafeterias and restaurants, numerous monuments and statues, a minigolf course and a toboggan slope. There is a bird sanctuary in the north Eilenriede, and Hannover Zoo borders directly on the forest as well. The leaflet "Kunst auf Schritt und Tritt" ("Art at Every Turn") from the Hannover-Tourist-Information is a perfect companion for a nice stroll in the inner Eilenriede.
Stadtforsttamt (Municipal Forestry Department), is the administrative body in charge of the Eilenriede along with Hannover's other woods and forests. Its main office can be found at Am Pferdeturm, with District Foresters (Revierförsterei) at Tiergarten and in Mecklenheider Forst. To take care of the Eilenriede's special problems Hannover has yet another unique feature: the Eilenriedebeirat (Eilenriede Advisory Board). It was founded in 1950, when the construction of the Messeschnellweg was met by strong protests from the population.
Stadtpark At the back of the city hall is a lovely park and garden with fountains, ponds, lawns, a rose garden and works of art. The "Stadtpark" was designed in 1951 when the first "Bundesgartenschau" took place right here. Numerous attractions derive from that time, like a lot of the sculptures and a bridge leading into the "Eilenriede", the city's forest. There is also a pavilion and a japanese tea house. Visitors of the HCC who stay overnight at the "Hotel am Stadtpark" could miss this lovely park together, because they can use an underground passageway between the city hall and the hotel. But when they look out of the window they have a very good view of the park.
Address: Theodor-Heuss-Platz 1-3, 30175 Hannover Tel: +49 (0)511 / 8113-0 Openings=at daytime, fountains from April to October from 15. 00-17.00
Tiergarten The term "Zoological Garden" often used for "Tiergarten" is not quite appropriate in this case. The 112 hectares of this recreational forest are inhabited by a large number of wild animals, making it one of Hannover's most popular attractions. From the beginning it was not the production of wood, but hunting and the beauty of the wild animals and the forest that stood in the foreground. The Tiergarten was created in 1678/79 by Duke Johan Friedrich for hunting. 120 fallow deer were let free in the forest. This is approximately the number living there today. Unfortunately, Duke Johan Friedrich did not live to enjoy the first hunt, organised in 1680. He died a year earlier during his journey to Italy.
In 1997 a majestic red deer and two graceful hinds were put in the "Hubertus" enclosure, previously inhabited by wild horses. The Tiergarten also provides living space for numerous species of birds and rare bats. The annual Tiergartenfest is a highlight of a special kind, especially for children and families, who are rewarded in that way by the Municipal Forestry Department for the collection of acorns and chestnuts for feeding the wild animals during the winter.
Address: Tiergartenstraße 149, 30559 Hannover Tel: +49-0511 / 526653 Openings=Mon-Fri 06.00 till dusk, weekends 7.00 till dusk Admission=free
Herrenhäuser Garten The baroque garden and park ensemble of Herrenhausen in Hannover is a remarkable example of the traditional art of landscape gardening.The baroque garden ensemble, one of the greatest and most beautiful in Germany, was founded in 1666 by Duke Johann Friedrich of Calenberg. Its preservation and further development are owed mainly to one remarkable woman: Sophie, princess-elect of Hannover and mother of the first "Hanoveranian" on the English throne, was of English descent and needed a garden. And so the baroque ensemble was created, with trees, hedges, numerous special and model gardens, a great fountain with surrounding waterworks, mace garden, open air theatre, many statues and sculptures, cascades, a grotto and a palace (destroyed in 1943), gallery and orangery buildings. In 1936 the Great Garden was restored after being placed under Hannover's municipal administration.
Today, even without the palace, it is one of the city's most popular attractions, with its garden festivals, the baroque fireworks and theatre performances during the summer months.
To the north of the Great Garden we find the Berggarten (the Rock Garden), which used to be the utility or herbal garden for the court. Later it became a botanical garden. The mausoleum in the middle of the garden, built by the noted architect Laves, is the last resting place of the members of Hannover's royal family. A great collection of rare and exotic plants can be found in the greenhouses of the Rock Garden. You can see there not only the largest European collection of orchids, but also one of the most impressive cactus displays of its kind.
You can drive or take a Strassenbahn (tram) if you want to go to the Great Garden from Hannover's city centre. Or you might try an alternative way preferred by many: a walk through the Georgengarten. To the left and right of a two kilometre long lime tree alley lies this grand park with its old trees, green spaces and peaceful places. It is very different from the Great Garden, based strictly upon French and Dutch examples of landscape gardening design, or the Rock Garden, redesigned as a botanical garden. All three together make up a garden ensemble without comparison in entire Germany.
Fountains are spurting from Good Friday until the beginning of october on weekdays from10.30 -12.00; 15.00-17.00 ; Sat, Sun and public holidays 10.30-12 .00; 14-18.00
Address: Herrenhäuser Straße 4, 30419 Hannover Tel: +49-0511 / 168-47576 Openings=daily from 8:00 until early evenings hours Admission=adults DM 5,-, children up to 14 yrs. for free
Hannover Zoo The Zoo was declared an EXPO-Project called "EXPOnat Hannover Zoo" ("Exhibit Hannover Zoo"), with an entirely new concept of visitors' experience. The new attractions like the Gorilla Mountain, Jungle Palace, Meyers Hof, Sambesi and (in the near future) Arktika, were designed as enclosures (rather than the traditional cages) where the animals can live in conditions similar to their natural habitats.
Address: Adenauerallee 3, 30175 Hannover Tel: +49-0511 / 28074-0 URL: http://www.zoo-hannover.de Openings=March to October 9:00-19:00; ticket box cloeses at 17.30; Nov-Febr 9.00-16.00, ticket box closes at 15.00 Admission=adults 19 DM; cildren 17 DM
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The baroque garden and park ensemble of Herrenhausen is Hannovers main green attraction. It's the largest gardens of this kind in Germany, and even though the palace has disappeared, it's still an impressive sight. It is however not the only interesting garden in Hannover and also the Zoo is well worth a visit. The city has lots green spots and small parks where you can have a rest and enjoy a sunny afternoon!