Very British: Hannover Will Be All About the Union Jack in 2014 (Dec. 29, 2013)

Attention, please: In 2014, things will be “very British” in the capital of Lower Saxony! Hanover is the focal point of the state exhibition “Hanover’s Rulers on the English Throne: 1714–1837”—and will transport visitors back to the era when the royals hailed from Hanover, not only through four major exhibitions but also with numerous events such as concerts and cultural programs, guided tours, a fireworks display, a specially composed opera, British teatime, a fashion show, equestrian events, and a British garden festival.

2014 State Exhibition

The main exhibition venues in Hanover are the Lower Saxony State Museum, the newly built Herrenhausen Palace Museum, the Wilhelm Busch Museum—German Museum of Caricature and Drawing, and the Hanover Historical Museum. From May 17 through October 5, these venues will take visitors on a journey of discovery through 123 years of history, during which the Electorate of Hanover and the Kingdom of Great Britain were linked by a king. A detour to Celle is also worthwhile: The exhibition at the Residenzmuseum in Celle Castle focuses on the theme “Ready for the Island: The House of Brunswick-Lüneburg on Its Way to London.”

Visitors to the state exhibition can look forward to exciting exhibits such as a royal carriage (the No. 1 State Carriage), art, and caricatures—and will find answers to questions like “What do Gulliver’s Travels have to do with politics?”, “How did a German prince suddenly become the ruler of a global empire?” or “How were the ‘kings with immigrant backgrounds’ received in Great Britain?” They’ll also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the multifaceted history and culture of the personal union through costumed tours, literary walks, teatime in the park, workshops such as “Calligraphy” and “Gilding,” “Baking Like Jane Austen,” or the “Debating Club.” The atmosphere is also “very British” at after-work events, poetry slams, or at the Welfen Cinema.

Under the Banner of the Union Jack: British Year in Hanover

In addition to the wide range of cultural education programs offered at the exhibition venues, numerous events throughout the year—in theaters, parks, at the racetrack, in museums, and in churches—will showcase royal splendor in Hanover in celebration of the royal jubilee. For example, the opera “George”—composed and written specifically for the state exhibition—as well as various (church) concerts and productions such as “God Save King George” with the Hanover Boys’ Choir, Benjamin Britten’s opera “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the Hanover State Theater, the dance project “Oliver Twist,” and “Brodowy’s Summer Salon” are all dedicated to the Union Jack. 

Under the theme “Urban Gardening – London Special,” the Herrenhausen Garden Festival in the Georgengarten will celebrate the British way of life just as much as the Hanover-British Race Day at the “Neue Bult” racetrack in Langenhagen. And the Hanover-British Society is also putting the horse—Lower Saxony’s heraldic animal and the theme of the state exhibition—in the spotlight: During the reenactment of George’s 1714 journey to London for his coronation, based on historical sources, magnificent horses will be harnessed to the carriage and accompanied on their way by riding and driving clubs.

Events such as the German-British fashion show “Anglomaniacs & Union Jackets” and exhibitions of contemporary art at the Sprengel Museum Hannover, the kestnergesellschaft, and the Kunstverein Hannover also offer a modern perspective on the two countries.

British Fireworks – British Culture

In addition, numerous major events held regularly will pay tribute to the era when the royals hailed from Hanover with a “royal” program: At the International Fireworks Competition on May 31, for example, the English team “1st Galaxy” will enchant audiences with British fireworks artistry against the magnificent backdrop of the Herrenhausen Gardens; a supporting program featuring cabaret and music will also provide British entertainment for the whole family. The Fête de la Musique on June 21 in downtown Hanover will also have a “very British” feel—and both the KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen and the Chortage Hannover artfully incorporate the 300th anniversary of the personal union, for example with a new interpretation of an English opera by Henry Purcell.

A detour to the vacation region to visit Marienburg Castle is also well worth it: A special exhibition there is showcasing the Hanoverian royal crown, along with the scepter and bridal crown, for the first time since the end of the Kingdom of Hanover within the former Guelph domain.

“Hanover’s ties to England have had a profound influence on the city. In 2014, the city is celebrating its British roots, and the Union Jack is taking center stage. We cordially invite all guests from Germany and abroad to take this ‘British Year’ as an opportunity to visit and discover Hanover,” says Hans Christian Nolte, Managing Director of Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH (HMTG).

For anyone who would like to take advantage of the State Exhibition and the Year of Britain in Hanover to visit the capital of Lower Saxony, the HMTG has put together various group packages and lodging options. You can find an overview at www.hannover.de/erlebnispakete & www.visit-hannover.com

All information about the state exhibition and events throughout Lower Saxony is available at www.hannover.de/landesausstellung and www.royals-aus-hannover.de. In addition, the HMTG will showcase the Year of Britain at the International Tourism Exchange in Berlin (ITB) and at the GTS in London.

Background on the State Exhibition:

In October 1714, the Elector of Hanover ascended the British throne in London as King George I. From that point on, the Guelph prince ruled over both kingdoms—as did the four kings who followed him. To mark the 300th anniversary of this personal union, the state of Lower Saxony is commemorating the 123-year era during which the royal family hailed from Hanover with the major cultural-historical exhibition “Hanover’s Rulers on the English Throne, 1714–1837” in 2014. As different as the two countries were in terms of their constitutional systems and their economic and social conditions, there were nonetheless diverse political influences and interactions between them.

These were to have a significant influence on social development in Great Britain and Hanover, as well as on the cultures of both countries: in art and architecture, in music and fashion, in science and in agriculture. In addition to the exhibition at the Lower Saxony State Museum in Hanover, the newly built Herrenhausen Palace, the Wilhelm Busch Museum—German Museum of Caricature and Drawing—and the Residence Museum at Celle Palace invite visitors to explore the eventful era when Hanover’s rulers sat on the English throne. In addition, numerous events—such as concerts, British teatime, and sports events—bring to life the era when the royals hailed from Hanover.

© EAC GmbH

Under the Union Jack

Hanover 2014: Very British

In the anniversary year of the personal union, numerous other events—in addition to the state exhibition—brought a touch of British flair to Lower Saxony...

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