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

This year marks the 300th anniversary of the personal union between Hannover and England: for 123 years, both countries were ruled by the Hannoverian 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 Hannover will transform into an attractive “Very British” open-air gallery from May 28 to June 27. Starting today, visitors will be guided through the city center by large-scale advertising columns. The most significant events from the era of the Personal Union can be discovered along this columned walkway. The various themes are depicted with large, expressive images and specially designed advertising column heads. Adorning the tops of the columns is a sea of English flags and flags bearing the Hannover logo; two columns even feature a royal crown. To complement this, each column displays event information on the theme of “Very British.”

© HMTG

Engaging content developed by Prof. Thomas Schwark (Director of the Hannover Historical Museum), 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 Electors” is the message at the Market Hall, for example; 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 spanning 1714–1837.

Architecture trail

Hannover’s cityscape still bears numerous traces of this unique era of the Personal Union, which took place some 300 years ago. That is why visitors can now explore the many architectural landmarks from the Personal Union era via a specially created architectural trail and a new city guide. The work of court architect Georg Laves (1788–1864), in particular, continues to shape the city to this day. In front of the 31 buildings, such as the Wangenheim Palace or the Kavaliershäuser in 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 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 in the Herrenhausen Gardens are up for grabs in the special Royals contest: At each advertising column in the Open-Air Gallery, there is a question to answer, the answer to which can be found in the accompanying informational text on the topic. Once all twelve columns have been visited and the questions correctly answered, the solution word will be revealed. Flyers for the contest, including the column 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, give the city center a British feel.

Hannover’s retailers and department stores have also come up with some fantastic ideas to bring a touch of British flair—inspired by the personal union—to their storefronts and the pedestrian zone. A jury comprising the City Association, HMTG, and the Historical Museum will decide at the end of May which display has performed the best. 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 charitable 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 available at www.hannover.de/architekturpfad.

The open-air gallery can be viewed 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 the case here as part of the state exhibition and through the remarkable accompanying program. This initiative by Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH serves to remind both the residents and visitors of this city of this special part of our shared history in a truly vivid way. And I am certain that this will succeed in getting many more people excited about the topic.”

Quote from Stefan Schostok, Mayor of the State Capital of Hannover:

“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 by Hannover Marketing und 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 Hanoverian history.”

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

“It’s amazing: in our city, people encounter Hannover’s rich 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 Hannover.”

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

“We warmly invite all residents of Hannover, their guests, and tourists to take a very special tour of (English) Hannover!”

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 glamorous, 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 demonstrating in their storefronts that Hannover is not only ‘Very British’ but also very creative.”