Herrenhäuser Gärten, which dates back to 1666 and the reign of Sophie of Hanover, is filled with a lush population of trees, hedges, flowers and more. Often referred to as the Great Gardens, the Herrenhauser are known for their striking beauty and are a definition of geometric intricacy. Patrons come back season after season to relax by the fountain, an open-air theater, statuary, expertly manicured flora and, of course, the grotto. Several smaller gardens dappled with Greek style pavilions and dazzling ponds are a part of the bigger expanse. Visitors can enjoy one of the many festivals, fireworks displays and performances that take place here over the summer during the Herrenhausen Festival Weeks.
This splendid New Town Hall, boasting a castle-like marvel and beauty, was built in 1901 on oak piles and since has become a well-known landmark of the city. Kaiser Wilhelm II inaugurated it in 1913. Besides the architectural attractions, it contains huge halls with wonderfully carved doors and beautiful portraits. Four small models of the town depict the building, its destruction and reconstruction. Visitors can also enjoy a great view of Hanover from a special observation point. Guided tours are available on request. After an interesting tour here, you can enjoy at its restaurant, Gartensaal, which serves you a scrumptious menu of International delicacies.
An artificial lake built close to the city center in 1936, Lake Maschsee is one of Hanover's most popular recreation areas. 78,000 square meters (83,9585 square feet) in size but no deeper than two meters, the lake is perfect for sailing, windsurfing, rowing, swimming and ice-skating in winter. The bathing area includes a 300 meter (984 feet) long beach and has no admission fee. The summertime festival Maschseefest offers a host of entertainment for the whole family.
Marktkirche, a classic example of Neo-Gothic architecture, was built in Hanover's central marketplace for the working people of the region. It stood tall throughout the centuries, and its style was often mimicked. When the original was leveled as a result of a series of World War II bombing raids, it was rebuilt exactly as it had been before. Celebrated artist Gerhard Marcks, well-known for his war-memorial work all over Germany, contributed to the rebuilt Marktkirche's new facade.
The Lower Saxony State Museum contains a selection of paintings and sculptures spanning nine centuries, as well as interesting archaeological, ethnological and natural history exhibits. The museum's art collection includes the works of prolific painters like Rembrandt and Albrecht Dürer as well as numerous other artists. German and Italian Renaissance art hangs alongside old Dutch masterpieces from the 17th and 18th centuries. Almost half of the 44 galleries containing the Landesmuseum's collection of paintings and sculptures are dedicated to 19th and 20th-century art, from Romanticism through to Impressionism.
Operating since 1996, the Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover shows wild animals in a natural environment. Instead of cages, visitors can stroll through the themes like the Indian Jungle Palace, Canadian Yukon Bay, Zambezi, Gorilla Mountain and others and experience the wild. There is also an open-plan farm containing animals native to northern Germany. Each theme area features the animals from that region, like the African Zambezi houses giraffes, rhinoceros and other native African animals. Hungry visitors can refuel on local specialties in the Meyers Gasthaus restaurant. During winters, the zoo also offers activities like ice-skating and ice curling for the enthusiasts.
Exhibiting the collection curated by Bernhard Sprengel, a local industrialist, the Sprengel Museum Hannover contains a fine display of modern art by the likes of Picasso, Chagall, Klee and Nolde. A whole section is devoted to the work of the Dadaist artist Kurt Schwitter and temporary exhibitions of contemporary art are often scheduled on a regular basis. If you are an art enthusiast, this place is a must visit.
The ruins of this venerable old church are certainly worth a look. It is probable that a chapel was built on the site as early as the 10th Century, but it was replaced by a Romanesque basilica, the wall of which is still visible. The interior of the church was gutted during a 1943 air raid and the ruins now stand as a memorial. The interior contains a sculpture by Lehmann and a bell from Hiroshima, Hanover's twin town.
Berggarten which was once a small time vegetable garden is now a stunning and mesmerizing natural house with different planet varieties from the tropical rain forests. The place is beautiful and filled with colorful plants, flowers and species which are very unique to the area. There are close to 11,000 different plants and the themed greenhouse is a perfect place for any nature lover. You can spend hours talking to the local experts and understanding the plant life.
Hanover's Eilenriede forest is undoubtedly the city's most popular landmark and its green lung. It covers an area of 650 hectares (1606.18 acres) in the middle of the city, which makes it unique. Even the massive Hyde Park in London and the Bois de Boulogne in Paris are smaller in area than Eilenriede. The park gets its name from the alder trees, known as Erlen or Ellern in German, which used to grow on its moist, marshy soil. Apart from this, oak and beech trees are also commonly found at this park. Pine, larch, alder, birch trees and other species also grow here in large numbers. A haven for hikers and cyclists, Eilenriede is truly a nature's paradise in the heart of the city.