Did you know that …?

Fun Facts – Did you know that (Hanover) …

… celebrates one of northern Germany’s biggest folk festivals every summer? The Maschseefest draws more than two million visitors over 19 days, adding to the annual vacation atmosphere.
 

… one of Germany's greenest major cities? Hannover's 11.36% green space also includes Europe's largest contiguous urban forest: the Eilenriede—which, at 642 hectares, is about twice the size of Central Park in New York.
 

… has been hosting the world's largest shooting festival every year since 1529?
 

... is actively working toward a transportation revolution? In total, a 2,800-kilometer bicycle network stretches across the region, categorized into the “Green Ring,” the bicycle region, everyday bicycle traffic, and municipal routes and networks.
 

… Did the Kingdom of Great Britain also rule for 123 years? From 1714 to 1837, the kings of Hanover also sat on the British throne.
 

... Where did the polymath Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz work for 40 years?
 

… Which library houses the Golden Letter from the Burmese king to King George II?
 

… is located in the heart of Germany? At least as far as its convenient location along the major north-south and east-west highways is concerned.
 

… has its very own Cookie Monster? In the summer of 2013, it stole the 20-kilogram, gold-plated replica of the Leibniz cookie from the facade of Bahlsen’s flagship store on Lister Platz, demanded free cookies for children and animals, and soon afterward hung it around the neck of the Lower Saxony horse statue in front of Leibniz University.
 

… Did you know that the famous Leibniz Butter Cookie was invented by Bahlsen in Hanover?
 

… Did you know that the Hannover Adventure Zoo is home to more than 2,150 animals representing 181 species and has been named Germany’s “Best Zoo” several times?
 

… hosts Germany's oldest flea market? It was first held in 1967, and since 1972, it has drawn crowds to the banks of the Leine in the Old Town every Saturday morning for a bit of haggling and strolling.
 

... speaks the purest High German and is home to various famous news anchors?
 

… Did you know that Hannover is the hometown of the rock band Scorpions and Lena Meyer-Landrut, that Anke Engelke grew up in the region, and that Niki de Saint Phalle is an honorary citizen of the city? Figures such as the Dadaist artist Kurt Schwitters and the polymath Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz also made their mark here. In sports, World Cup-winning soccer players Per Mertesacker and Ron-Robert Zieler, among others, hail from Hannover.
 

… makes music come out of a manhole cover in front of the main train station?
 

... has a local mountain? The Deister is perfect for hiking, mountain biking, and walking—reaching an elevation of up to 405 meters.
 

... has its own “lake”? The Steinhuder Meer attracts visitors with its swimming island, the historic barn district in Steinhude, a climbing paradise on the north shore, and a boat ride to Wilhelmstein Island. 
 

... Why is Marienburg Castle sometimes called the “Neuschwanstein of the North”? This magnificent Guelph residence, located in Pattensen, about 30 kilometers south of the city, resembles a fairy-tale castle and serves, among other things, as the setting for “Maxton Hall.”
 

… hosts “Theaterformen” every four years, one of the most important festivals for contemporary theater, performance, and dance in Germany?
 

… got the hang of it? In the New City Hall, the world’s only arched elevator carries guests at a 17-degree angle to the observation deck atop the city hall dome.
 

... It’s a mecca for megastars, isn’t it? From Coldplay to Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Eminem, Robbie Williams, AC/DC, Roland Kaiser, and Madonna—they’ve all been there.
 

… Do you enjoy singing? There are more than 400 active choirs here—more than in almost any other city.
 

... is top-tier in handball? The “Recken” (TSV Hannover Burgdorf) play in the first handball league.
 

… has a Green Belt? The roughly 160-kilometer loop tour circles the state capital, passing through nine different types of landscape.