Herrenhausen Gardens, Hanover (must see)

One of the most outstanding and distinguished Baroque gardens in all of Europe, Herrenhausen Gardens is a must-see location. The sprawling grounds cover 135 hectares and were initially laid out between 1676 and 1714 by Electress Sophie. They were conceived as a pleasure garden for the royal family and the royal court, but today it is operated by the Herrenhausen Palace Museum.

The original segment of the gardens, as created by Sophie, spanned 50 hectares. She commissioned French gardener Martin Charbonnier to create a summer retreat just outside of town. It consisted of lawns with walkways, statues, and hedges in formal geometric patterns. Today, this segment is known as the Great Garden.

The centerpiece of the Great Garden is Herrenhausen Palace. The Palace itself was more or less destroyed in bombing raids during World War II. A replica was rebuilt and opened in 2013.

The Berggarten or "Mountain Garden" was created in 1666 as the Great Garden's vegetable garden. As the name suggests, it's situated on a hill north of the Palace. In the 1680s, a conservatory was added, and Sophia of Hanover transformed it by adding exotic plants.

In the 1700s, Berg Garden (Berggarten) was used to test potential crops and their viability in the Lower Saxony. During the 1800s, the garden had Europe's most varied and valuable collection of palms. Today, the garden is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world.

The George Garden (Georgengarten) was added when George III purchased adjoining property. The Welf Garden is on the grounds of the University of Hannover. The gothic castle at its center, Welfenschloss.

Every year, the gardens host many festivals, including the summer "Festival of Small Arts" and "Festival Week Herrenhausen." In addition, the gardens are a member of the European Route of Historic Gardens (REJHIS). The gardens are a popular spot year-round, so plan accordingly and try to visit during off-peak times to avoid big crowds.

Tip:
Your ticket will include museum + gardens. If you only visit one of those, you can come back to visit the other with the same ticket any other day. A note of caution: if you leave the gardens you will have to pay again for re-entry! The Georgengarten is a public open space with free access.