Hannover | Germany | Lower Saxony

Founded in medieval times on the banks of the river Leine, Hanover was a small village of ferrymen and fishermen that became a comparatively large town in the 13th century. In the 14th century the main churches of Hanover were built, as well as a city wall with three town gates to secure the city.

In 1636, the Elector of Calenberg decided to move his residence to Hanover. His electorate was afterwards known as the Electorate of Hanover (see: House of Hanover). His descendants would later become kings of Great Britain (after 1801, kings of the United Kingdom); the first of them was George I, who ascended to the British throne in 1714. Three kings of Great Britain, or the United Kingdom, were at the same time Electoral Princes of Hanover. The Elector's even later descendants became monarchs of sixteen countries around the world known as the Commonwealth Realms.

The most famous of these descendants living today is Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.

One of the most famous sights are the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen: The Great Garden belongs to the most beautiful baroque gardens in Europe and it is the only one in Germany in its original state.

The Berggarten is one of the more important botanical gardens in Europe. The most famous points of interest are the Tropical House, the Cactus House, the Canary House and the Orchid House, which hosts one of the world's biggest collection of orchids, and free-flying birds and butterflies. There is also the Sea Life Centre Hanover, which is the first tropical aquarium in Germany.

The Georgengarten is an English landscape garden. The Leibniz Temple and the Wallmoden Palace are two points of interest there.

Other gardens are the Guelph Garden with the Guelph Palace and the Prince Garden. Nearby are the Water Art, the Hardenbergsche House and the Prince House.

The landmark of Hanover is the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus). Inside are four models of the town and the only working diagonal-elevator in Germany, which goes up into the large dome.

The Hanover Zoo is one of the most spectacular and best zoos in Europe. The second time the zoo has received the Parc Scout Award and so it became the best and nicest zoo in Germany.

Another point of interest is the Old Town. On the edge of the Old Town are the Market Hall, the Leine Palace, and the ruin of the Aegidien Church which is now a monument for the victims of war and violence.

Through the Marstall Gate you arrive at the banks of the river Leine, where the world-famous Nanas of Niki de Saint-Phalle are located. They are part of the Mile of Skulpture.

Since 2007 the historic Leibniz Letters, which can be visited in the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Library, are an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The 36 most important sights of the city center are connected by a 4.2 km (3 mile) long red line, which is painted on the pavement. The so called Red Thread is a kind of walk-around which starts at the tourist information and ends in front of the central station.

Because of around 40 parks, forests and gardens, a couple of lakes, two rivers and one channel Hanover offers a large variety of leisure activities.