2021 - September - Hannover - Herrenhäuser Gärten

Hard to believe, but one of the most magnificent and largest baroque gardens in Europe was long neglected and no longer recognizable as such.

The Great Garden, which was originally designed as a representative pleasure garden, was an absolute gem. In 1710, it also had an impressive size of about 50 hectares. For comparison: The former old town of Hannover was just as large and at that time housed 10,000 inhabitants!

So why did the facility, which was brought to this size by Duke Ernst August and his wife Sophie, fall into oblivion? The reason is simple: Later rulers hardly stayed in Hannover anymore, so the garden was neglected and became unimportant.

It was not until the city of Hannover bought the property in 1936 that the Great Garden was revived and completely restored by 1966. It can now be admired in its former splendor.

The only real innovation was the grotto in the Great Garden, which was designed with works by Niki de Saint Phalle. Here you will find modern sculptures and mosaics by the artist.

And here's a tip for bargain hunters: With a combination ticket, you can not only visit the Great Garden, but also the Berggarten opposite and the museum. That is cheaper overall.

You can already see from my photos that the Berggarten is also a worthwhile destination. By the way, both gardens are part of the Herrenhäuser Gärten mentioned in the title. Other gardens in this group are the Welfengarten and the Georgengarten, which are freely accessible English-style gardens.

By the way, all parks, including the New Town Hall, are sought-after backgrounds for wedding photos. So it is quite possible that you will spot wedding couples in the photos.

For more impressions from Hannover, read here...

https://vakantio.de/reisetante/2021-september-hannover