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City park

A unique garden monument from the post-war period.

The City Park is one of Hanover’s most significant examples of landscape architecture. In 1951, the first Federal Horticultural Show (BUGA) was held here, with the participation of many renowned landscape architects. The park owes much of its current appearance to that event.

Historical photo of the city park from 1951: visitors strolling between terraced flowerbeds. — Exhibition park for the 1951 Federal Garden Show

The origins of the historic city park are linked to the construction of the grand City Hall complex in 1913–14, now known as the Hannover Congress Centrum. Shortly after its opening, the garden—which at the time featured a strictly formal design—was already regarded as the city’s most elegant public garden.

In 1933, the Stadtpark was used to host the annual exhibition of German horticulture and expanded to include several garden show areas. The grounds were once again used as an exhibition park for the first Federal Garden Show in 1951.

Today, its historical significance in the post-war period and its excellent state of preservation make the Stadtpark a valuable and living cultural monument.

In a unique way, the park breathes the character of a public residential garden of the 1950s-1960s:

Freely movable chairs and loungers invite visitors to make themselves comfortable in their favorite spot. A circular path winds through the garden’s diverse sections, such as the Large Perennial Garden and the Rose Garden, which features 120 varieties. The water features of the Fountain Garden and its colorful seasonal flower beds from the 1960s are another attraction, as is the Japanese Tea Garden, which was inaugurated in 1996 and created as part of the city partnership between Hanover and Hiroshima. The park is particularly appreciated by visitors seeking botanical diversity, relaxation, and the peaceful enjoyment of nature.

The city park comes alive with even greater botanical diversity every May during the "Hannoversche Pflanzentage," which have become a fixture on the calendars of gardening enthusiasts. Over the course of two days, numerous vendors offer an exquisite selection of plants on the grounds.

The city park is fully accessible. The fountains are in operation during the summer months from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Dogs are not allowed in the city park.

March through September: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
October through February: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

100th anniversary

In 2014, the Stadtpark celebrated its 100th anniversary. The Department of Environment and Urban Greenery took this anniversary as an opportunity to pay tribute to the history of the park since its creation in 1914 with an exhibition in the park entitled "100 Years of Stadtpark - Park with Perspectives". 24 panels with striking historical views of the park grounds invite visitors to change their perspective between the past and present.

Photograph from the 1950s: A mother with children on a Sunday walk in the city park

Hannover City Park – A Park with Views

24 exhibition panels on the history of the park

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Further information can be found in the 36-page brochure "The City Park," which is available from the Department of Environment and Urban Greenery or can be downloaded here.

As part of the "Green Hannover" program, guided tours of the grounds are held every year.