Enchanting Christmas atmosphere in Hanover

It’s almost that time of year again: every year during Advent, Hannover transforms into a true Christmas wonderland with twinkling lights, lavishly decorated fir trees, and the scent of mulled wine and gingerbread. Starting November 26, Christmas markets in the historic city center, in front of the central station, along the Lister Meile, and throughout the region invite you to take a leisurely stroll. Christmas music fills the air, enticing aromas waft through the streets, and the squares are lined with lovingly designed stalls. Artisans sell hand-carved toys, original jewelry, and beautiful Christmas decorations, offering countless other gift ideas for stockings or under the Christmas tree. Delicious treats like oliebollen, mulled wine, or baked apples invite you to indulge.

Against a historic backdrop, visitors to the historic Christmas village can try their hand at felting or blacksmithing, enjoy traditional foods and drinks such as hot mead, or admire artisans in period costumes. The Finnish Christmas village, on the other hand, transports you to the North with authentic Lapp tents, handicrafts, and specialties like smoked salmon or glögi, and in the Forest of the Wishing Well, fifty fir trees and numerous forest huts create a fairy-tale atmosphere right in the heart of the historic city center. Santa’s traditional visit is sure to make children’s eyes light up just as much as the numerous craft stalls and puppet shows. And for those who, while strolling through the festively decorated alleys, also want to learn fascinating facts about Hannover and its history from experienced guides, the city walk “Hannover – Enlightening” (starting November 30) is the perfect choice. 

This year, starting November 26, Hannover will be aglow with spectacular Christmas lights featuring magical light displays, "Organic Balls," and "String Lites"!

But the Christmas markets are by no means the only highlights Hannover has to offer. This green metropolis on the Leine River, which is extremely easy to reach thanks to its central location in the heart of Germany and Europe, offers endless recreational opportunities for the whole family. Visitors can expect art and culture at the highest level, culinary diversity ranging from haute cuisine to hearty home-style cooking, extensive shopping opportunities, attractive major events, and plenty of nature right in the heart of the city.

A mecca for culture lovers

Hannover, with its unique cultural landscape, diverse programming, and fantastic museums, is always worth a visit. Here, internationally renowned venues host breathtaking performances, concerts, and shows. Extensive collections and unique museum pieces make Hannover a magnet for visitors from far beyond its borders.

The theater program is impressively diverse, featuring classical theater and opera, cabaret, comedy, variety shows, dance theater, and performances by numerous theater groups, cultural centers, and private theaters. The State Opera and Schauspiel Hannover rank among the best in the world. The program captivates audiences with fresh interpretations of classics and modern premieres. A social event par excellence is the annual opera ball at the State Opera in Hanover. Contemporary art is presented by the world-famous Sprengel Museum Hanover. The Kestnergesellschaft, the Kunstverein, and the Ahlers Pro Arte/Kestner Pro Arte Foundation are also nationally renowned museums of contemporary art.

The Landesmuseum Hannover is strongly family-oriented, featuring sections on prehistory and protohistory, natural history, and ethnology, as well as the Landesgalerie, the Vivarium, and the coin cabinet. Egyptian art, ancient cultures, and applied arts are on display at the Museum August Kestner. The Wilhelm Busch – German Museum of Caricature and Drawing offers magnificent satire spanning four centuries. For those interested in the history of the state and the city, the Historical Museum is a treasure trove.

A shopping paradise and an oasis of relaxation

And after the cultural program, it’s time for some shopping! After all, according to a nationwide survey, Georgstraße and the adjacent Bahnhofstraße in the heart of the pedestrian zone are among the most popular shopping streets in the country. What’s more, virtually no other city offers so many shopping options in such a compact area! Within a 400-meter radius, every retail sector is represented. Around the Kröpcke clock, visitors can find inspiration in exclusive shops and vibrant department store worlds. Short distances and a well-developed infrastructure make for a pleasant (Christmas) shopping experience.

Nearby, even your shopping trip becomes a cultural experience, because art is everywhere in Hannover! Some 200 sculptures are scattered throughout the pedestrian zone, the banks of the Leine River, the city center, and other neighborhoods, and 170 fountains add architectural and sculptural touches.

Fancy a bite to eat? Hannover’s culinary scene is known for its diversity: excellent restaurants, hearty home-style cooking, and international specialty restaurants are all available in a wide variety. Approximately 1,500 restaurants in the city offer delicacies ranging from hearty to exquisite. In addition, numerous street cafés and traditional pubs in the picturesque city center—dotted with historic brick Gothic architecture—or near the opera house offer the perfect opportunity to wind down after a day of shopping.

You can also relax in the many green oases of this city on the Leine. Europe’s largest urban forest, the Eilenriede, is just as inviting for walking, cycling, jogging, and inline skating as the Maschsee. Right in the heart of the city, the lake, with its sailboats and avenue-like waterfront promenades, exudes a maritime flair. Moreover, its southern shores are home to a wellness center that meets the highest standards. After a tiring day of shopping, you can unwind in the saunas with views of the Maschsee and the magnificent Neues Rathaus, relax with massages from around the world, and recharge your batteries with yoga or Pilates. During prolonged frost, Hannover’s own lake transforms into the city’s largest open-air ice rink, completing the winter fun.

The Maschsee is also a major attraction in the summer: for just under three weeks, it hosts the Maschseefest, one of the largest folk festivals in northern Germany (July 31 through August 18). Another highlight on the summer events calendar: the world’s largest marksmen’s festival (June 28 through July 7, 2013), featuring a massive fair and a parade stretching for miles through the city.

The summer Fête de la Musique is a fantastic live music festival: 1,500 musicians take over the city center from forty different venues, filling the air with music for ten hours straight. Year after year, fans of niche musical genres enjoy the Masala Festival and A Cappella Week, which offer unique musical experiences on various stages. Numerous festivals and music events draw large crowds to Hannover every year. Major open-air concerts at the AWD Arena or on the Parkbühne stage attract rock and pop fans in droves. On Ascension Day, the city becomes a jazz metropolis: that’s when the party gets underway at Enercity Swinging Hannover in front of the New City Hall.

For little adventurers and garden wanderers

A true adventure—and certainly not just for children—is a visit to the Erlebnis-Zoo Hannover, one of Germany’s most spectacular zoos. Seven fantastic themed worlds with more than 3,000 animals take visitors on an exciting journey around the world, first transporting them with polar bears, rocky gorges, and deep forests to the Canadian landscape of Yukon Bay, and then with giraffes, ostriches, and a raft ride to the African-themed world of the Zambezi. During the cold season, the zoo transforms into a fairytale winter wonderland for six weeks (starting December 1): authentic Christmas huts conjure up the Advent spirit, the idyllic village pond becomes a 1,200 m² ice rink, and the snow-covered toboggan runs and nostalgic steam carousels are guaranteed to make children’s eyes light up.

The Herrenhausen Gardens invite you to take a stroll through intertwined groves, miles of beech hedges, and golden sculptures. They were laid out 300 years ago by Electress Sophie, modeled after French gardens, and are now among the most important and beautiful Baroque complexes in Europe. Throughout the year, the Herrenhausen Gardens provide a fantastic backdrop for a variety of cultural events. The International Fireworks Competition, the KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen, musicals at the Garden Theater, the Small Festival in the Great Garden, or the Winter Variety Show: throughout the year, art and culture enchant visitors from near and far. An architectural masterpiece is set to open in early 2013: on its original site, Herrenhausen Palace, the summer residence of the Guelph kings, is being rebuilt behind a reconstructed façade as a modern conference center

A museum. The new Museum Schloss Herrenhausen, an institution of the state capital Hanover supported by the state of Lower Saxony, will open its doors for the 2013 summer season. "Palaces and Gardens in Herrenhausen—From the Baroque to the Modern Era" is the title of the major exhibition, which invites visitors to discover the diversity of the extensive palace and garden complex in Herrenhausen in an entertaining way.

There's no way Hannover will let this one slip by!

Hannover is located directly on the A2 and A7 highways. Excellent connections to the ICE network, city and regional transit, the parking route, and numerous parking garages, as well as Hannover Airport—just a few kilometers from downtown—ensure a comfortable round-trip journey. Centrally located hotels in all price ranges and a wide range of entertainment options, including numerous clubs, theaters, and bars, variety shows, and a casino, leave nothing to be desired. Among the tourist highlights around the state capital are Lake Steinhude, the Deister ridge, and Marienburg Castle, the former ancestral seat of the Guelph kings. This, too, makes the state capital an ideal destination for a varied stopover or a city break full of experiences.

For more information, please see the attached brochure and visit www.hannover.de/dutch. Print-quality photos are available at www.hannover.de/fotodownload

Media Contact:
Julia Sellner
Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH
Vahrenwalder Straße 7
30165 Hannover
+49 (0) 511/123490-13
presse@hannover-marketing.de