The Guelphs and Hannover

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.