Travel in the footsteps of the Guelphs

The Guelphs and Hannover

From 1636 to 1866, Hannover was the royal seat of the Guelphs.

From 1636 to 1866, Hannover was the royal seat of the Guelphs. The most famous remnant of this period is the Herrenhausen Gardens. However there were many other buildings constructed in this period which still define the cityscape of Hannover to this day. The modern-day seat of the Lower Saxon State Parliament, the LEINE PALACE, was built in 1637. It served as the residence of the Hanoverian Kings from 1837 to 1866. The WELFENSCHLOSS never acted as a palace. Guelph rule came to an end before its completion and in 1879 it became the main building of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University. The ERNST AUGUST STATUE, dedicated to the memory of King Ernst Augustus, was erected on Ernst-August-Platz in front of Hannover Central Railway Station in 1861. The STATION BUILDING, the WATERLOO COLUMN and the OPERA were also built during the reign of the Guelphs. A visit to the Museum of History will reveal a lot about the Royal House of Hannover. A highlight here is the golden carriages, including the one in which George I rode to London for his coronation in 1714.

Horticulture enthusiasts will find plenty to discover in the BERGGARTEN. This botanical garden is home to over 12,000 different flourishing plant species as well as various greenhouses, one of which contains one of Europe’s largest orchid displays.

The famous Guelphs in detail:

*ELECTOR SOPHIE VON DER PFALZ (VON HANNOVER), 1630 - 1714, mother of George I, King of Great Britain, creator of the Great Garden in Herrenhausen

*GEORG I, 1660 - 1727, Duke of Braunschweig and Lüneburg, from 1698 Elector of Braunschweig-Lüneburg ("Kurhannover"), from 1714 King of Great Britain

*GEORG II., 1683 - 1760, Elector of Hanover and King of Great Britain and Ireland

*SOPHIE DOROTHEA VON HANNOVER, 1687 - 1757, daughter of Georg I and wife of Friedrich Wilhelm II in Prussia and mother of Frederick the Great

*GEORG III., 1738 - 1820, Elector of Hanover and King of Great Britain and Ireland

*CAROLINE MATHILDE, 1751-1775, wife of Christian VII, Queen of Denmark and Norway. Exiled to Celle in early 1772, where she lived until her untimely death.

*GEORG IV., 1762-1830, King of Hanover and King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

*WILHELM IV., 1765 - 1837, King of Hanover and King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1 1837 End of the personal union

*ERNST AUGUST, 1771 - 1851, Duke of Cumberland, from 1837 King of Hanover

*GEORG V., 1819 - 1878, King of Hanover 1 1866 End of the Kingdom of Hanover

*MARIE, 1818-1907, Queen of Hanover. Georg V gave her Marienburg Castle for her 39th birthday.

Tourist highlight

Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen

The Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen are Hannover’s most famous attraction and have been a striking example of grand horticultural style for more than 300 ye...

Sightseeing

Herrenhausen Palace

Herrenhausen Palace is the new old center of the Herrenhausen Gardens.

Vor einem schlossähnlichen Gebäude parken mehrere Autos.

Sightseeing

Guelph Castle

The castle that was never used as a castle.

Rückseite des Leineschlosses am Hohen Ufer.

Sightseeing

Leine Castle

Formerly the residence of the kings, today the Lower Saxony state parliament.

Tourist Highlight

Opera House

One of the most beautiful neo-classical buildings of its kind.