Important baroque garden

The large garden

The 50.2 hectare Great Garden is one of the most important Baroque gardens in Europe.

The Great Garden and Herrenhausen Palace

The Großer Garten is considered the heart of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen and is one of the most significant Baroque gardens in Europe. The basic layout of the 50.2-hectare garden remains virtually unchanged today. In addition to the impressive landscape design, visitors are also captivated by the various sculptures, which are illuminated for special events, as well as the large fountain with its 70-meter-high water column.

Consisting of individual gardens, the Great Garden is not only a popular destination for tourists. The Herrenhausen open-air theater is also held here in summer:

Open-air theater

Herrenhausen Garden Theater

The Garden Theater in the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen is a unique attraction found nowhere else in the world.

read

The gardens

The Low German Flower Garden
The Low German Rose Garden
Lawn garden
Island garden
Renaissance garden
Baroque garden
Rococo garden
Low German flower garden
Fountain garden

Back then

The creation of the Großer Garten in 1675 is attributed to Duke Johann Friedrich of Calenberg. However, its further development is owed to a remarkable woman: Sophie of the Palatinate, Electress of Hanover. She had the garden laid out at the end of the 17th century based on French models and made it her life’s work. The result was a masterpiece of Baroque garden art featuring numerous specialty and model gardens, a large fountain, water features, a maze, an open-air theater, various groups of statues, a cascade, a palace, a gallery building, and an orangery.

The grotto

The Great Garden also includes the grotto, which was built in the 18th century and decorated with shells, crystals, glass and minerals to provide a cool retreat in summer. These decorations were lost until the artist Niki de Saint Phalle decorated the grotto in 2002 with pieces of pebbles, glass and mirrors, transforming it into a magical work of art full of color, light and sensuality.

Today

Today, the Großer Garten is one of Hanover’s main attractions, drawing around half a million visitors each year. The city celebrates this jewel in its crown with garden festivals, theater performances, and the International Fireworks Competition during the summer months.