Royal - Hanover's Herrenhausen Gardens

Royal - Hanover's Herrenhausen Gardens

The Great Garden is one of Europe’s most significant Baroque gardens and attracts tourists from all over the world. A major attraction here is the reconstructed palace, which houses the new Herrenhausen Palace Museum—an institution of the state capital of Hanover, funded by the state of Lower Saxony. Events such as the International Fireworks Competition and the “Little Festival in the Great Garden” are true crowd-pleasers.

They are considered Hanover’s most famous attraction: For over 300 years, the Herrenhausen Gardens have epitomized a stately lifestyle in a lush green setting. Their centerpiece, the Great Garden, is one of Europe’s most significant Baroque gardens and delights tourists from all over the world. Just as the court society once did, visitors today stroll among richly decorated parterre sections, magnificent sculptures, and artfully trimmed, illuminated hedges. Fountains ripple in hidden corners; the Great Fountain impresses with its 72-meter-high water column. Created by Electress Sophie as the “Grand Jardin de la Leine,” the Great Garden is one of the few parks of its era whose basic structure has been preserved.

Awarded: Best Park in Europe 2015

In 2015, the Herrenhausen Gardens were awarded the European Garden Prize. In the “Historic Gardens” category, the Herrenhausen Gardens became the first German park to receive this award. The prize has been awarded since 2010 by the European Garden Heritage Network (EGHN). It is the largest garden network in Europe and represents over 170 members in twelve countries.

Baroque Meets Modern

© Mahramzadeh

Like a fairy-tale kaleidoscope of mirrors, colorful glass, and pebbles, Niki de Saint Phalle’s grotto captivates visitors. The famous artist left her final token of love for the people of Hanover here. The reconstructed Herrenhausen Palace, situated on its original site in the Ehrenhof of the Great Garden, houses not only a modern conference complex for academic events but also the new Herrenhausen Palace Museum—an institution of the state capital of Hanover, funded by the state of Lower Saxony. The museum features rotating exhibitions related to Herrenhausen and Hanover. Across from it lies the Berggarten, created in the mid-17th century. This botanical show garden delights visitors year-round with its exotic blooms. Also part of the Herrenhausen Gardens is the Georgengarten, a popular local recreation spot designed in the style of English landscape architecture. 

Unique cultural enjoyment

The KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen is a diverse summer festival featuring theater, concerts, and art installations. From May through September, fantastic displays of light and color set to perfectly synchronized music enchant visitors to the International Fireworks Competition, where the best pyrotechnicians outdo one another. Designed in the style of an amphitheater, the Garden Theater offers a beautiful setting for outdoor plays and musicals. For over 25 years, the “Kleine Fest im Großen Garten” has featured more than 100 acrobats, mimes, and musicians, taking place on many summer evenings in the sprawling, Baroque setting. During the cooler months, the gallery and orangery become sought-after venues for classical concerts and the winter variety show.

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