Hanover - Very British: New Walking Tours - Hanover Open-Air Gallery and Architecture Trail (May 28, 2014)

This year is dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the personal union between Hanover and England: for 123 years, both countries were ruled by the Hanoverian House of Welf. In addition to the major state exhibition being held at various museums, another highlight of the celebrations is now getting underway.

open-air gallery

Under the motto “12 Locations, 12 Themes, 30 Days,” downtown Hanover will be transformed into an attractive “Very British” open-air gallery from May 28 through June 27. Starting today, visitors will be guided through the city center by large-scale advertising columns. The most important events of the era of the personal union can be discovered along this colonnade. The various themes are depicted using large, expressive images and specially designed advertising column heads. The tops of the columns are adorned with a sea of English flags and flags bearing the Hanover logo; two columns even feature a royal crown. To complement this, each column displays event information related to the “Very British” theme.

© HMTG

Engaging content developed by Prof. Thomas Schwark (Director of the Historical Museum of Hanover), floor posters placed around the columns, and a contest also encourage visitors to linger by the columns.

“The Kings of the Hanover-British Personal Union” adorn the column at Ballhofplatz; “We Are the Elector,” for example, is the message at the Market Hall; and “Everything About Leibniz, the Scholar” can be learned at the Leibniz Monument on Georgsplatz. At a total of twelve locations in the heart of downtown, these special advertising columns provide concise information on all the key topics of the remarkable era from 1714 to 1837.

Architecture trail

Hanover’s cityscape still features numerous reminders of this special era of the Personal Union some 300 years ago. That is why, starting now, visitors can explore the many architectural landmarks from the Personal Union era along a specially created architectural trail—a new city guide. Above all, the work of court architect Georg Laves (1788–1864) continues to shape the city to this day. In front of the 31 buildings—such as the Wangenheim Palace or the Kavaliershäuser in the Georgengarten—you’ll find floor posters or information panels featuring historical views of the buildings.
The buildings and their connection to the Personal Union are also described in a fold-out map with a print run of 40,000 copies. At www.hannover.de/architekturpfad, all the buildings are listed along with explanations and links to further information. A corresponding QR code on the ground posters links to this website

The Architecture Trail project is intended to remain in place as a new thematic city guide long after the festivities have ended.

Raffle

Great prizes and tickets to the International Fireworks Competition at the Herrenhausen Gardens are up for grabs in this special Royals contest: At each advertising column in the Open-Air Gallery, you’ll find a question to answer based on the accompanying informational text on the topic. Once you’ve visited all twelve pillars and answered the questions correctly, you’ll have the solution word. Flyers for the contest, including the pillar locations and the entry form, are available at the Tourist Information Office on Ernst-August-Platz or can be downloaded at www.hannover.de/verybritis

"Very British" Decor in Downtown

In addition, banners hanging along Bahnhofstraße, Karmarschstraße, and Georgsstraße—featuring images of the five kings from the era of the personal union—lend the city center a British feel.

Hannover’s retailers and department stores have also come up with some great ideas and brought them to life to conjure up a British atmosphere—with a nod to the personal union—in their storefronts and the pedestrian zone. A jury consisting of the City Association, HMTG, and the Historical Museum will decide at the end of May which decoration stood out the most. The decoration team from the winning store will receive a 1,000-euro recognition award, donated by the City Association. The money will then be donated to a good cause. Each participating store has designated a nonprofit organization that it will support individually.

These are the participating members of the City Community and the institutions they support:

Becker & Flöge / Georgstraße - SCHATZINSEL Children's Day Hospice Hannover e.V.
Galeria Kaufhof at Ernst-August-Platz - Clinic Clowns Hannover e.V.
Parfümerie Liebe - STEP kids e.V.
Schuh Neumann - Aktion Sonnenstrahl e.V.
Will & Apel - NKR
Karstadt - Children’s Hospital auf der Bult
Klavierhaus Döll - Aegidius Haus Hannover auf der Bult
Galeria Kaufhof at the Marktkirche - Aktion Sonnenstrahl e.V.

All information on the topic of “Very British” is available at www.hannover.de/verybritish.

The Architecture Trail is featured at www.hannover.de/architekturpfad.

The open-air gallery is featured at www.hannover.de/openairgalerie.

Quotes:

Quote from Ernst August, Hereditary Prince of Hanover:

“It is truly wonderful to see the history of the personal union—and thus that of my family—presented so impressively, as is currently happening here as part of the state exhibition and through the remarkable accompanying program. Through this initiative by Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH, both the residents and visitors to this city are reminded of this special part of our shared history in a truly vivid way. And I am certain that this will succeed in sparking additional interest in the subject among many people.”

Quote from Stefan Schostok, mayor of the state capital of Hanover:

“I am thrilled by the wide variety of exciting and interesting accompanying events and activities surrounding the state exhibition ‘Hanover’s Rulers on the English Throne, 1714–1837,’ held to mark the anniversary of the personal union. Particularly outstanding and a highlight here is the idea from Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH to guide visitors through the city center using large-scale advertising columns. This ‘Very British’ open-air gallery and the new architectural trail are sure to spark even more interest in our city’s history.”

Quote from Prof. Dr. Thomas Schwark, Director of the Hannover Historical Museum:

“It’s wonderful: In our city, people encounter Hanover’s great history and experience just how exciting the 18th century was. Great Britain became a world power—and the throne was held by the House of Hanover.”

Quote from Hans Christian Nolte, Managing Director of Hannover Marketing & Tourismus GmbH:

"We cordially invite all residents of Hanover, their guests, and tourists to take a very special tour of (English) Hanover!"

Quote from Martin A. Prenzler, Executive Director of City-Gemeinschaft Hannover e.V.:
“The era when Hanover’s princes sat on the English throne as kings was glorious, pompous, and at times incredibly exciting—yet it remains far too little known. That’s why I’m delighted that history is now being brought to life in the city center for an entire month. This event is a wonderful appetizer for the magnificent state exhibition in our museums and excellent entertainment for visitors to the city. And, of course, there are plenty of prizes to be won. Members of the City Community have donated attractive prizes for the contest and are showcasing in their storefronts that Hanover isn’t just ‘Very British,’ but also very creative.”