We arrive in Hannover on the train from Frankfurt a little after midnight, scurry to our hotel, and start to explore the next day. We find a modern city, full of sculptures, an intriguing old town, and a fabulous tram system for getting around.
Hannover is the capital of the German state of Lower Saxony and is about 350 km (250 miles) north of Frankfurt. Founded in medieval times, Hannover became a city in the 13th century and is now a major crossing point for both north-south and east-west highways and rail lines and hosts many commercial trade fairs with the largest fairground in the world.
Hannover train station, multi-level street leading to station
Opera and shops across the street
Church skeleton across from museum
"New" city hall next to modern Nord/LB building
Next to the new city hall, Maschpark is 10 hectares (25 acres) of calm and tranquility. Created in 1900, the park has remained the same since then, a great example of late 19th century German garden art.
Maschpark
The River Leine runs through town, in front of the city hall, with parks and walkways along its banks.
River Leine
Hannover's old town was rebuilt after the Second World War, relocating parts of old buildings, principally the facades, from all over the city into the new old town, a picturesque area of narrow streets and half-timbered buildings.
Old town
On the edge of old town, the Kreutzkirche was originally build in 1333 and the interior was restored after the war.
Kreutzkirche
Walking through Hannover on our way to the Herrenhausen Gardens and Palace, we find ourselves walking down a street of fabulous sculptures (Brühlstrasse) along the banks of the River Leine.
Soon we reach the Georgengarten containing the Herrenhausen Allee, a 1.85 km (1.1 mile) road built in 1726 through the gardens to connect the city with the royal palace.
Half-way along the allee, the buildings of the Leibniz University Hannover look out on the park, with a tram stop right at the main entrance.
Strolling up the Herrenhausen Allee through the park, we get great views of meadows, lakes, canals, and plantings of the Georgengarten, now part of the Herrenhausen Gardens located at the far end.
Tall, decorative sculptures are located along the banks of the Maschsee, with parks, food kiosks, and water sports rentals.
We stroll back through Maschpark and over to the Market Hall (Markthalle), Hannover's indoor market for fish, shellfish, sausage, meat, fruit, vegetables, bread, pasta, wine, and much, much more.
We truly enjoy wandering through and exploring this delightful city.
Sculpture along the river
Street art nearby
Herrenhausen Allee
Half-way along the allee, the buildings of the Leibniz University Hannover look out on the park, with a tram stop right at the main entrance.
Leibniz University Hannover
Strolling up the Herrenhausen Allee through the park, we get great views of meadows, lakes, canals, and plantings of the Georgengarten, now part of the Herrenhausen Gardens located at the far end.
Paths and meadows of Georgengarten
We walk back to Hannover's New City Hall and through Maschpark (with a great view of the New City Hall from across the pond) and over to the Maschsee, an artificial lake south of the city center. Maschsee covers 78 hectares (193 acres) and is a popular recreation area, as well as the location of many water sports.
Maschpark
New City Hall
Maschsee
Tall, decorative sculptures are located along the banks of the Maschsee, with parks, food kiosks, and water sports rentals.
Art on the banks of the Maschsee
We stroll back through Maschpark and over to the Market Hall (Markthalle), Hannover's indoor market for fish, shellfish, sausage, meat, fruit, vegetables, bread, pasta, wine, and much, much more.
Markthalle
Walking away from the Markthalle, we find more great art decorating the walls, streets, and parks of the city.
Art on the streets
We truly enjoy wandering through and exploring this delightful city.
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