Did you know that …?

Fun Facts – Did you know that (Hannover) …

… Did you know that every summer it hosts one of the biggest folk festivals in northern Germany? The Maschseefest attracts more than two million visitors over 19 days, adding to the annual holiday atmosphere.
 

… one of Germany’s greenest major cities? Hannover’s 11.36% green space 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 Marksmen's Fair every year since 1529?
 

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

… Did the Kingdom of Great Britain also rule for 123 years? From 1714 to 1837, the kings of Hannover 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 the Bahlsen company’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 Hannover?
 

… Did you know that 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 browsing.
 

... 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 the world of sports, Hannover is home to soccer World Cup champions Per Mertesacker and Ron-Robert Zieler, among others.
 

… 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 climbers’ paradise on the north shore, and a boat trip to Wilhelmstein Island. 
 

... Why is Marienburg Castle often called the “Neuschwanstein of the North”? This magnificent residence of the House of Welf, located in Pattensen, about 30 kilometers south of the city, resembles a fairytale 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 curved elevator carries visitors 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 top handball league.
 

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