Visit Hannover and experience a new palace and first-class events in Herrenhausen Gardens (22.02.2013)

Visit Hannover and experience a new palace and first-class events in Herrenhausen Gardens

Before and during ITB, the international travel trade show in Berlin, Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (HMTG) is promoting Herrenhausen Gardens and its event highlights in 2013.

Herrenhausen Palace was opened at the beginning of the year in the presence of the international media, two princesses, further prominent political and business guests, the nobility and society at large. Now the Palace is open to visitors from across the globe. HMTG will use the international travel trade show (ITB), which will take place in Berlin from 6 to 10 March, as a platform to arouse interest in a visit to Hannover, including the conference centre and Herrenhausen Palace Museum. En route to Berlin and in the capital itself, brochures, placards, ground posters and promotions draw attention to Herrenhausen Gardens.

“Herrenhausen Palace now completes the facilities at Herrenhausen Gardens. Our advertising activities focus on the superb events, excellent locations and exceptional atmosphere at Herrenhausen Gardens which offer both private visitors and business people virtually endless opportunities”, remarks Christian Nolte, Managing Director of HMTG.

During ITB for example, Herrenhausen Gardens are featured prominently in Deutsche Bahn’s trains too: from the beginning of March, pictures of Herrenhausen will appear nationwide on the covers of around 750,000 copies of the ICE (high-speed train) timetable. When ITB opens its doors on 6 March, around 22,500 copies of a brochure especially printed for the international tourism show with the Palace on the cover will be available throughout Germany in the ICEs. The brochure will also be distributed during the show by promotion teams. Berlin’s Central Station, Spandau station and trade show stations, present vast posters with pictures of the gardens, Herrenhausen Palace with its neoclassical façade and events like the International Fireworks Competition, or Herrenhausen’s KunstFestSpiele arts festival. At these sites and at the trade show complex itself, ground posters also advertise the gardens.

At the show, HMTG and representatives of Herrenhausen Gardens will share a stand in hall 6.2 a. Here they will showcase the Palace, explain what’s new and offer packages for people coming on their own or as part of a group, or for coach-tour operators. Both visitors from the industry and consumers will be targeted.
“Herrenhausen Gardens are a symbol of consummate garden culture and have long been a magnet to visitors from all over the world. With the addition of Herrenhausen Palace, they are now an even more attractive place to visit”, comments Ronald Clark, Director of Herrenhausen Gardens.
Herrenhausen Palace was destroyed during World War II and now, 70 years later, has been rebuilt by the Volkswagen Foundation in the place it once stood. The reconstruction of the former summer residence of the Guelph dynasty has restored the architectural centrepiece to Herrenhausen Gardens. The building with the neoclassical façade is now home to a cutting-edge conference centre and a museum. The conference centre, which offers a wide selection of function rooms, opened on 18 January, while Herrenhausen Palace Museum – organised by the state capital of Hannover, sponsored by the Federal State of Lower Saxony – will open to the public on 15 May. The inaugural exhibition entitled “Palaces and Gardens in Herrenhausen – from Baroque to Modern” will take visitors on a fascinating voyage of discovery through history, portraying the world of horticulture and life at the royal court.
The Palace is encompassed by one of Europe’s most attractive parks. Created over 300 years ago by Electress Sophia, the Great Garden is an impressive sight even today with its baroque ornaments, artistically cut hedges, splendid sculptures and water features. The Grotto, designed by world-famous artist Niki de Saint Phalle, is just as eye-catching as the magnificent Gallery or Orangery. Berggarten displays botanical treasures and one of the world’s biggest collections of orchids. The idyllic Georgengarten rounds off Herrenhausen Gardens, which attracted around 650,000 visitors last year.
In summer, the gardens are an outstanding backdrop for a number of prestigious events. KunstFestSpiele is culture at its best and the motto of this year’s arts festival is “HOME OF UTOPIA” (1 to 22 June). The world’s best pyrotechnists will cause a stir at the 23rd International Fireworks Competition on five nights between May and September when they will fill the skies with explosive works of art that include light and music. During one of Germany’s biggest cabaret festivals entitled “Little Festival in the Great Garden” (10 to 28 July), dancers, pantomime artists and musicians will turn the gardens with all their ramifications into an enormous open-air stage. And visitors to the Garden Theatre can also take in a musical. From 2 to 31 August, authors Heinz Rudolf Kunze and Heiner Lürig will be reprising their successful Shakespeare musical “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. But even during the colder months the season continues. Classical concerts and a winter variety programme are offered in the Gallery and Orangery.
For a visit to Herrenhausen, HMTG has come up with a selection of themed packages that include accommodation and other extras. For an overview go to www.hannover.de/erlebnispakete

For further information visit www.hannover.de/herrenhausen , www.hannover-tourismus.de www.visit-hannover.com

Photos for journalistic use are available to download at www.hannover.de/fotodownload.