Introducing the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen

STROLLING LIKE IN THE 17TH CENTURY

For over 300 years, the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen have been synonymous with garden art and culture of the highest order. “The garden is my life,” said Electress Sophie, whose son George Louis ruled as Elector of Hanover and as King George I of Great Britain. In Herrenhausen, the Russian Tsar Peter the Great danced; here, George Frideric Handel composed music; here, the polymath Leibniz pondered the infinity of God’s creation. Even today, the former summer residence of the Guelphs conveys a princely way of life. As an authentic example of a Baroque garden, the Großer Garten impresses with its formal layout, magnificent parterre, historic garden theater, water features, and the grotto designed by Niki de Saint Phalle. Since 2013, the reconstructed Herrenhausen Palace has housed a museum.  Changing exhibitions showcase Baroque treasures and introduce famous figures from Hanover’s history.

For garden lovers, there is much to discover at the Berggarten. Over 12,000 different plant species thrive in this botanical garden. Its greenhouses are home to, among other things, one of the largest orchid exhibitions in Europe. The Berggarten is also the site of the mausoleum of the Royal House of Hanover. Electress Sophie, King George I of Great Britain, and many of their descendants found their final resting place here. In the GEORGENGARTEN, laid out in the English style with its idyllic landscapes, a stroll to the Wilhelm Busch Museum is well worth the effort. Near today’s Waterlooplatz, the Leibniz Temple, with its 12 Ionic columns and a marble bust, commemorates the polymath. Starting in May, the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen transform into a festival venue. Decorated with thousands of summer flowers and potted plants, they invite visitors to attend a variety of events, such as the International Fireworks Competition or the Garden Festival in the Georgengarten. Guided tours of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen showcase the diversity of the gardens’ splendor and provide insights into their history.

The gardens are open daily from 9 am all year round. In the summer season there are daily water games and the information pavilion/shop is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

For more information, please visit the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen’s website, call +49 (0)511 168-34 000, or send an email to herrenhaeuser-gaerten@hannover-stadt.de