Sights in Hanover
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Messegelände
The Messegelände, the main trade fairgrounds, are in the city's sutheast, served by tram/U-Bahn 8 (and during fair times 18) as well as IC and ICE trains. Tram/U-Bahn 6 serves the eastern part of the fairgrounds near the former Expo site. During major fairs there's a full-service tourist office at the airport and an information pavilion at the fairgrounds, in addition to the main tourist office.
Pressure on accommodation means you really need to book ahead (call 0511 1234 5555) - and be prepared for phenomenal price hikes too. Indeed some visitors choose to stay instead in Hildesheim, Celle (both of which up their own prices during these times) or even in Hamburg, and co…
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Die Nanas Sculptures
The city government was inundated with nearly 20,000 letters of complaint when these three earth-mama sculptures were first installed beside the Leine River in 1974. Now, the voluptuous and fluorescent-coloured 'Sophie', 'Charlotte' and 'Caroline' by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle are among the city's most recognisable - and most loved - landmarks.
Indeed the Nanas helped make De Saint Phalle famous. Devout fans of her work will find a direct trip to Leibnizufer (U-Bahn: Markthalle Landtag) rewarding. Others could be left thinking 'Is that it?' In that case, wait until Saturday, when the extra attraction of a flea market takes place at the Nanas' feet.
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Neues Rathaus
An excellent way to get your bearings in Hanover is to visit the Neues Rathaus (built in 1901-13) and travel 98m to the top in the curved lift inside its green dome. There are several viewing platforms here, and while it's a novelty taking a lift that slants to stay within the dome, it's only on descent that you feel any gravitational swing. The cabin can take only five people at a time, so queues are inevitable.
In the downstairs lobby are four city models showing Hanover from the Middle Ages to today. Comparing the models from 1939 and 1945 drives home the dramatic extent of WWII devastation.
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Sprengel Museum
It's the building as much as the curatorial policy that puts the Sprengel Museum in such high esteem. Its huge interior spaces are brilliant for displaying its modern figurative, abstract and conceptual art, including a few works by Nolde, Chagall and Picasso. At the core of the collection are 300 works by Niki de Saint Phalle, a selection of which is usually on show. Take bus 100 from Kröpcke to the Sprengelmuseum/Maschsee stop.
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Peace Bell
In a city so devastated by war, it's not surprising to find a Peace Bell. Donated by sister city Hiroshima, it lies inside a steel-cross Memorial to Our Dead on Breite Strasse near the corner of Osterstrasse. Every 6 August at 08:15, the date and time of the atomic detonation at Hiroshima, a delegation from both cities meets here to ring the bell. The neighbouring Aegidienkirche Memorial (1350) was bashed by artillery in 1943.
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Oskar-Winter-Brunnen
The Renaissance façade of the Leibnizhaus is a reconstruction; the house was once the home of mathematician and philosopher Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716). In front of the Leibnizhaus is the Oskar-Winter-Brunnen. If you make a wish and turn the small brass ring embedded in the ironwork three times, local lore has it that the wish will come true.
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Schloss Marienburg
A small part of the palace, Schloss Marienburg, is open to members of the public interested in a behind-the-scenes glimpse of German aristocratic life. Admission is by a one-hour tour, either with a tour guide or using an audio guide (English, French, Polish and Russian available). Tours include the Knight's Hall, Queen's Library and more.
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Altes Rathaus
Some of it is a postwar fake, but parts of Hanover's Altstadt (old town) still look appealingly quaint. The Marktkirche in the market square has original elements and so does the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall, begun in 1455)across the market, and the nearby Ballhof (1649-64), a hall originally built for 17th-century badminton-type games.
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Kestner Gesellschaft
It's always worth checking listings for the Kestner Gesellschaft. Having exhibited works by Otto Dix, Georg Grosz, Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee before they became famous, the society is still originating shows that later tour Europe. Its wonderfully light, high-ceilinged premises were once a bathhouse.
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Grosser Garten
With its fountains, neat flowerbeds, trimmed hedges and shaped lawns, the 300-year-old Grosser Garten is an experience. There's a maze near the northern entrance, while the Grosse Fontäne (Big Fountain; the tallest in Europe) at the southern end jets water up to 80m high.
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Herrenhäuser Gärten
Largely modelled on the gardens at Versailles, the Herrenhäuser Gärten truly rank among Hanover's most memorable attractions. You need a couple of hours to do them justice, but they combine a couple of treats.
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Regenwaldhaus
Along with the Berggarten (north of the Grosser Garten) is the Regenwaldhaus. Inside there's a fairly gimmicky and contrived virtual 'journey' to the Amazon. Things are much more pleasant in the attached tropical greenhouse.
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Kestner Museum
Decorative arts through the ages are covered at the Kestner Museum, where you'll see everything from Bauhaus-style cutlery to a very impressive collection of Greek and Egyptian antiquities.
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Wilhelm-Busch-Museum
Amid the lake-dotted Georgengarten (admission free), you'll find the Wilhelm-Busch-Museum containing a wealth of caricature, including works by Busch, Honoré Daumier and William Hogarth.
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Marktkirche
Some of it is a postwar fake, but parts of Hanover's Altstadt (old town) still look appealingly quaint. Indeed, the 1349-59 red-brick, Gothic Marktkirche in the market square has original elements.
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Dino Park Münchehagen
Dino Park Münchehagen has more than 200 life-size dinosaurs ( Brontosaurus, T rex, raptors and so on) arranged around a walking trail where real dinosaurs once roamed.
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Waterloo Memorial
The winged angel Waterloo Memorial you see south of the Altstadt and west of the Neues Rathaus commemorates the German forces who fought at Waterloo.
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Berggarten
North of the Grosser Garten lies the Berggarten (Mountain Garden), with its great assortment of flora from around the world.
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Ballhof
The Ballhof (1649-64) a hall originally built for 17th-century badminton-type games is in Altstadt (old town).
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