castles, forts, parks and gardens - Travel back in time to the Royal Route in Niedersachsen

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castles, forts, parks and gardensTravel back in time to the Royal Route in Niedersachsen

Moated castles & rose gardens

Enchanted parks & fairy-tale castles

Regal periods & castle fortresses

Take a journey through time and experience magnificent castles and proud forts. The many grand estates and residences of Nied-

ersachsen awaken dreams of splendid celebrations, he-roic deeds and exuberant banquets. Pass through the stone portals and find yourself transported back to a by-gone era. Once upon a time, beautiful maidens in the palaces were consumed with longing for their para-mours and wicked rogues in the castles planned their dastardly deeds. Today, these magnificent buildings of-fer a wealth of possibilities, provide overnight accommo-dation and great events in a historical ambience. Visitors can have an entertaining time and unforgettable experi-ences behind the thick walls, in the princely halls, the la-dies’ chambers or the castle courtyards. Don’t just take our word for it – embark on your own journey through time!

Enjoy browsing and see you soon in Niedersachsen!

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Contents

Marienburg Castle – The fairytale castle built by the last King of Hannover ..........................................page 8

Bückeburg Castle – Noble estate with royal riding school ..................................................................page 10

Bevern Castle – Built by the Münchhausen family – ducal residence – cultural centre .............................page 11

Bad Pyrmont Castle – An island of culture in the heart of the city ........................................................page 12

Bad Pyrmont Spa Gardens – A jewel in Weserbergland ....................................................................page 12

Porcelain manufactory FÜRSTENBERG – Living culture .......................................................................page 13

Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen – Baroque splendour and botanical treasures .....................................page 14

Landestrost Castle · Wilhelmstein Island Fortress – Castles in charming scenery ....................................page 15

Celle – Royal residence with unique flair ..........................................................................................page 18

Braunschweig – The Lion City ..........................................................................................................page 19

Gifhorn Castle – Renaissance and time of the Guelphs .......................................................................page 19

Zeitorte – Emperors, crowns and dazzling jewels: Welcome to the land of time travel ...........................page 20

Wolfenbüttel Palace – Experience the Baroque .................................................................................page 21

Hardenberg Castle Ruins – Classic Elegance and modern comfort ......................................................page 22

Goslar Imperial Castle – World Heritage cultural site.........................................................................page 23

Osnabrücker Land – Discover old treasures anew ..............................................................................page 26

Bentheim Castle – Built on sand .......................................................................................................page 30

Emsland – Gems in Emsland............................................................................................................page 31

Oldenburg – Classicism and garden art ...........................................................................................page 32

Castle Park Lütetsburg – More than nature ........................................................................................page 34

Evenburg Castle – Water Castle in new glory ...................................................................................page 35

Tips for courtly experiences and special events ..........................................................................from page 36

Niedersachsen at a glance – Overview map ....................................................................................page 38

Imprint ..........................................................................................................................................page 38

Tips for royal accomodation and princess dreams .............................................................................page 39

Contact details – How to reach your hosts ........................................................................................page 40

Further brochures for your Niedersachsen holiday and image credits ..................................................page 41

HannoverAmsterdam

Köln

Berlin

Kiel

München

245 km

280 km

630 km

295 km

375 km

How to get thereBe it with your own car, public transport, by ship or air – all routes lead to Nieder-sachsen.

By air: Hannover Airport (HAJ) is the main hub from which to get there. Other internation-al airports in close proximity:· Hamburg Airport (HAM)· Paderborn Airport (PAD)· Airport Münster / Osnabrück (FMO)· Airport Bremen (BRE)

By car or by ferry: Are you thinking of travelling to Nieder-sachsen in your own car taking advan-tage of the ferry links to Germany, the Netherlands or France? You can reach Niedersachsen within only a few hours after leaving by ferry. The road system is excellent. Especially the A 7 Autobahn (running north to south) and the A 2 Auto-bahn (running east to west) make for fast connections.

An overview of distances: Amsterdam–Hannover: 3 hours 45 minutesCalais–Hannover: 6 hoursFlensburg–Hannover: 3 hoursHamburg–Hannover: 1 hour 15 minutesKiel–Hannover: 2 hours 30 minutesRotterdam/Hoek van Holland–Hannover: 4 hours 25 minutes

By train: One option worth considering for your trip to Niedersachsen is public transport. The majority of Niedersachsen cities are linked to the high speed ICE rail network of the Deutsche Bahn. www.bahn.de

For further information go to:www.niedersachsen-tourism.comunder the “Service” category.

Quality seal of approval: ServiceQualität Deutschland.

Backing ServiceQualität Deutschland, Ger-many’s quality management system, are 330 quality conscious service providers from very diverse industries. They all subscribe to one common goal: To deliver quality services throughout Niedersachsen and expand this on an ongoing basis so that we can offer you, the guest, the best possible service quality.

Be it as a guest or customer, you have the oppor-tunity to choose from a multitude of specials on offer and compare them. The quality seal makes

it easy. You are assured of guidance that can be relied on in your search for the right service pro-viders. Select businesses denoted with a letter “Q” for special attention and good service during your stay here. Let us bring a smile to your face!

When booking be sure you look out for business-es that have been awarded the letter “Q”. For further information go to:www.servicequalität-niedersachsen.de.

What’s this all about?

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The superb castles of Niedersachsen bring childhood dreams back to life: hair pinned up, abundant curls of a white wig falling

around the neck, a sumptuous lace dress sweeping across the floor during the dances at the sparkling ball... The splendid architecture makes it easy for vi-sitors to immerse themselves in the historical atmos-phere. The desire of the absolutist rulers for wealth is reflected in the rich decoration of the buildings. Even today, an exclusive ambience dominates the noble mansions with their sophisticated gardens and parks.

Drawing on French and Italian influences, the ar-chitects of the day created castles that are now ad-mired as important cultural monuments. The adjoining parks amplify the magic of times gone by.


Enchanted parks & fairy-tale castles

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The story of this magnificent castle is a tale of true love. Located between Hannover and Hildesheim, at 135 me-tres above sea level, it is a tranquil, un-touched monument to a great romance. Every detail in this superb, authentically preserved summer residence speaks of a tale of two hearts, the true story of the love between Queen Mary and King George V, the last King of Hannover.

The name of the castle, Marienburg, records for all eternity the person this manifesto of love was dedicated to: Queen Mary. As a token of his love and a gift for her 39th birthday, in 1857

King George gave his queen the Ma-rienberg hill along with the plans for a castle which was to be built on it. That same year the building work started on what was to become one of Germany’s most impressive and attractive historical buildings.

However, fate intervened: in 1866, be-fore the castle could be completed, the Prussians forced King George V into ex-ile in Austria; he was followed a year later by his queen, Mary.

Since 2004, Marienburg Castle has been owned by the great-great-great grandson of Queen Mary and King George V, HRH Ernst August Prince of Hannover, who has restored life to the castle of his great-great-great grand-mother. In addition to informative tours through the rooms of the castle – which have been restored to their former glo-ry – there is also a carefully selected programme with a variety of festive events and concerts, making Marien-burg Castle what Queen Mary had al-ways dreamed of it becoming: a mon-ument to love and a cultural centre of music and art!

The lives and fates of kings, counts and genteel families can be experienced at first hand between the Rivers Leine and Weser in the magical Land of Castles. In addition to Marienburg Castle, within a radius of 50 km around Hameln – the city of the legendary Pied Piper – there are six other truly sublime castles, all of which immerse visitors in culture and history, and offer a wide programme of exciting events: Bückeburg Castle, Hämelschen-burg Castle, Bad Pyrmont Castle, Bevern Castle, Fürstenberg Castle and Corvey Castle bring to life nobility, history, archi-tecture, garden design, ancient legends, sad, romantic and fantastic tales from the

past two thousand years, allowing visi-tors to see them with their own eyes, hear them and experience them with all their senses. All these castles bear testimony in stone to courtly intrigue, to the rise and fall of mighty dynasties, to the lives of princesses, rulers, kings and their lovers at the royal courts – and they tell fascinat-ing stories in which great joy and sorrow are closely intertwined in tales that have eternal appeal. In several castles the au-thentic furnishings have also survived the ravages of the years and they make his-tory come alive more vibrantly than any book could ever do.

built by the last King ofHannover

The fairytale castle

Tours

Experience history at first hand with a guided tour of Ma-rienburg Castle (daily from the 1st Saturday in March until the 1st Saturday in November) or simply enjoy the view from the tower. Groups of 15+ people are kindly requested to pre-book. Audio guides are available in English, Russian, Swedish, Spanish, French and Polish. www.schloss-marienburg.com

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Marienburg Castle

Hämelschenburg Castle

Dining

Dine like a king or queen and let yourself be treated like royal-ty: at the castle restaurant in the former stables and coach house skilled chefs await you with se-lected regional specialities, fine gateaux and cakes. Groups are invited to pre-book and choose from our enticing group menu. www.schloss-marienburg.com

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Weddings

That very special day calls for a very special location. Say ‘I do’ to one of the most magical and enchanting locations and cele-brate your dream religious wedding in the castle chapel with up to 70 guests. A choice of suites and rooms in the castle and the castle restaurant are available for your reception. www.schloss-marienburg.com

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Marienburg Castle · www.schloss-marienburg.com1

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Bevern Castle was built by the nobleman Statius von Münchhaus-en in the style of the Weser Renaissance from 1603 to 1612. It later became the royal residence of Ferdinand Albert I, a son of Duke Augustus the Younger of Braunschweig (Brunswick) and Lüneburg. Elisabeth Christine, the later wife of the Prussian King Frederick II, was also descended from the line of Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern.

Following 400 years of vicissitudes and turmoil, destruction and decay, this former stately home of a country aristocrat underwent a renaissance in the 20th century, rising like a phoenix from the ashes. Today, the Renaissance Castle of Bevern is owned by the administrative district of Holzminden which, over the years, has increasingly established the castle as a cultural centre of supra-regional importance.

With high-level master concerts, varied folk concerts, inspiration-al theatre performances, exciting guided tours of the castle, mul-timedia shows and interesting and expertly realized exhibitions, the “Kulturzentrum Weserrenaissance Schloss Bevern” (“Bevern Castle Cultural Centre”) is worth more than just one visit.

Bevern Castle is an architectural jewel that breathes the zeitgeist of the Renaissance: in summer, the ornamented facades of the inner courtyard serve as backdrop for the multimedia open-air production entitled “NÄCHTLICHES SCHLOSS – erleben” (“Ex-perience the Night-time Castle”) which brings the chequered his-tory of the castle to life. “Erlebniswelt Renaissance® – Geld re-giert die Welt” (“Renaissance Experiences – Money makes the

world go around”) recounts the rapid rise and deep fall of the castle builder, Statius von Münchhausen, and gives insights into the Renaissance era in general. In an audio drama with techni-cally perfect acoustics and visual effects, the castle builder him-self tells a story about the interplay between money and power.

Guided tours of the castle are provided in and around the build-ing from April to October, on Sundays and public holidays at 3.00 pm. In addition, the followed themed castle tours can be booked:• Children’s tour:

exciting mystery tour with fun, games and suspense• Tour in the dark:

tour for night owls and romantics, with special effects• Architectural history tour:

Castle Special – Pearl of the Weser Renaissance• Tour for people with a disabilities:

Handicapped? – not us! (Wheelchair, deaf, blind, mentally disabled).

The castle restaurant “die Schlosswirtschaft” takes care of the overall culinary pleasure, the café is in the most attractive court-yard of the Weserbergland region. The outstanding service and creative team is able to meet nearly every wish on every occasion.

For more information on events in the “Kulturzentrum Weserre-naissance Schloss Bevern”, please visit www.schloss-bevern.de.

WeserrenaissanceCastle Bevern

Built by the Münchhausen family – ducal residence – cultural centre

Bückeburg Castle · www.schloss-bueckeburg.de2

Bückeburg Castle, which has been in the ownership of the House of Schaumburg-Lippe for over 700 years, is a Renais-sance castle with magnificent halls originating from a period of four centuries.

Ever since 1925 the princely residence has been a tourist des-tination for individual visitors, families and groups. Although Bückeburg Castle is now known far beyond the region for its major events such as the “Landpartie” and “Weihnachtszau-ber” (“Christmas Magic”) festivals, this is not the only reason for the many visitors – in fact, it has a wealth of sights and at-tractions all year round.

Amidst an idyllic 80-hectare park, one can find the mauso-leum – Europe’s biggest privately owned monumental burial site – and the Royal Riding School where visitors can watch enchanting demonstrations of Baroque riding skills with a tra-dition going back 400 years.

Take a guided tour of the castle to discover how courtly life looked in the various epochs. And stop by at the “Alte Schlossküche” (Old Castle Kitchen) café/restaurant or the Park Café for seasonal fresh cuisine and a rich selection of cakes and gateaux.

The castle’s events calendar is rounded off by concerts, exhibi-tions and conferences.

“Erlebniswelt Renaissance®”, guided tours of the castle / themed tours, “NÄCHTLICHES SCHLOSS – erleben”, castle restaurant, folk museum, exhibitions, concerts, theatre.

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The Renaissance Castleof Bückeburg

At Bückeburg Castle you can not only celebrate but also mar-ry in royal style: in a civil or church ceremony. Our histori-cal rooms are suitable for fes-tivities of every sort, from 20 to 260 persons.www.schloss-bueckeburg.de

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Bevern Castle · www.schloss-bevern.de3

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A visit to the magnificent castle of the por-celain manufactory FÜRSTENBERG is one of the highlights of any trip to Weserberg-land. Situated high above the Weser River and close to the charming little half-timbered town of Höxter, FÜRSTENBERG takes pride in the fact that it is one of the eldest porcelain manufacturers in Europe and the only porcelain museum in North-ern Germany.

The incredibly rich heritage of FÜRSTEN-BERG is tangible everywhere in the castle grounds. The fascinating permanent exhi-

bition, special shows, museum tours, work-shops and many other events focusing on porcelain make for an enlightening and eventful visit. Special porcelain manufac-turing techniques are demonstrated in an open workshop.

For couples looking for a special place with a unique ambience to exchange vows, civil wedding ceremonies can be held in the castle’s Wedding Salon. The personal handprints of bride and groom in porcelain – a wedding gift courtesy of FÜRSTENBERG – and a glass of cham-

pagne add a special touch to this most memorable of days.

The 600-square-metre factory shop pre-sents the entire FÜRSTENBERG collection of fine porcelain and beautiful accessories and tableware in attractive surroundings.

The Schlosscafé & Restaurant Lottine serves delicious refreshments and offers a stunning view across the Weser valley.

Bad Pyrmont Castle, a Baroque summer residence, is a fortress complete with moat, ramparts, casements and corner bastions (open daily from 10.00 am – 9.45 pm). The castle grounds are the cultural heart of the ancient city of Bad Pyrmont, a spa resort steeped in tradition.

The municipal museum (Tue–Sun, 10.00 am – 5.00 pm) on the Cultural Island has a wide and fascinating range of exhibits that illustrate the history of the region and places beyond its borders.

The museum tells the 2000-year history of the Pyrmont springs and the spa’s fa-mous guests, who included Tsar Peter the Great, Frederick the Great, Queen Louise and Goethe.

The Culture Island is also renowned for the many events that are held in the cas-tle courtyards, which form a perfect back-drop for all kinds of open air events.

As a special highlight, couples are invited to celebrate their civil wedding ceremony in the romantic Tischbein Hall in Bad Pyr-mont Castle. Bad Pyrmont’s famous spa gardens are immediately adjacent.

Follow in the footsteps of kings and princ-es from the late 17th century and be cap-tivated by these charmingly landscaped gardens.

The 17 hectare, listed spa gardens in Bad Pyrmont attractively combine a network of tree-lined Baroque avenues and ele-ments inspired by classical English land-scaped parks, including several very rare tree species.

Since George Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, laid the foundation stone for the park when he had the main avenue laid out in 1668, the spa gardens have evolved gradually, incorporating a range of different garden styles and themes. One very special feature: the attractive tropical plants in the famous palm garden, where 330 types of palm trees and 400 sub-trop-ical pot plants and shrubs create a Medi-terranean atmosphere.

The spa gardens play an important role in the resort’s health services: they are a place of serenity and reflection, the per-fect environment in which to relax and un-wind, recuperate and restore one’s inner balance. The scent of flowers, the exotic flair of the palms and the gentle splashing of the park’s numerous fountains transport visitors to another, more tranquil world.

If a fantastical fairytale figure should sud-denly appear at the roadside and give you a friendly wave, don’t be startled:

the Weserbergland was the home of the Brothers Grimm, who wrote all of their famous tales and sto-ries here, and the entire region is imbued with the mystery of their fantastic tales.

A magical world is brought to life in the land of fairytales and fables. The most beautiful section of Germany’s Fairytale

Route meanders picturesquely around serene moun-tains and hills. Under blue skies and in front of a historic backdrop Rapunzel lets down her long hair and conquers the prince’s heart. Cinderella slips the dainty slipper on her foot and the ugly stepsisters re-ceive the punishment they deserve. The breathtaking cannonball ride of Baron von Munchausen sounds too farfetched? Not a bit of it! Once you have seen the actual cannonball and the horn with the frozen notes with your own eyes you’ll believe every word the old daredevil said. And by the way: should you hear the sound of a pipe while walking through the ancient cobbled streets of Hameln, you’d better cov-er your children’s ears ...

Bad Pyrmont CastleAn island of culture in the heart of the city

Bad Pyrmont Castlewww.staatsbad-pyrmont.de

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Bad Pyrmont Spa Gardenswww.staatsbad-pyrmont.de

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Castle tour – “Oh Trampel, meine Nerven!” (A historic tour of the castle with re-enacted scenes)

April – October, Sunday, 2.30 pm; meeting place: museum ticket counter Admission: adults €7 (€9 without the Pyrmont Card); students and trainees 50% discount; children up to a height of 1.20m free of charge.Due to the great demand for tickets we recommend advance booking. p +49 (0) 5281 151543 www.staatsbad-pyrmont.de

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in the porcelain manufactory FÜRSTENBERG

Porcelain Manufactory FÜRSTENBERG www.fuerstenberg-porzellan.com

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Living culture

Fables

A jewel in Weserbergland

Bad Pyrmont Spa Gardens Fairytalesmagic


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Baroque splendour and botanical treasuresThe Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen in Hannover are among the most beautiful parks in Europe. Three styles of garden art are presented here in perfection. The “Großer Garten” (Great Gar-den) impresses with its Baroque ornamentation and superb foun-tains. The grotto designed by Niki de Saint Phalle adds colourful elements of modern art to the mix. In the neighbouring Berggar-ten you can discover botanical treasures and glasshouses with blooming orchids and tropical plants. The idyllic Georgengar-ten is laid out in the style of an English landscape garden and is ideal for walks.

You can also pay a visit to the Sea Life Aquarium in the Berggar-ten or the Wilhelm Busch Museum in the Georgengarten, go on a fascinating guided tour and stop by at one of the restaurants or cafés in the gardens – with all this, you can easily spend a full and enjoyable day here. From May onwards the gardens are transformed into an outdoor festival hall: adorned with almost 60,000 summer flowers and 1,000 tub plants, they form the ven-ue for diverse events such as the “KunstFestSpiele” Herrenhaus-en, the International Fireworks Competition, the “Kleines Fest im Großen Garten” and performances in the historical Garden Theatre. The regular evening illuminations in the Großer Garten are a further atmosphere-rich spectacle. On many summer eve-nings, the illuminations set the scene for relaxed strolls and pic-nics in the festively illuminated gardens. The current dates are announced on the internet.

On many summer evenings, the illu-minations set the scene for relaxed strolls and picnics in the festively il-luminated gardens. The current dates are announced on the internet.

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Royal Gardens of Herrenhausenwww.herrenhaeuser-gaerten.de

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During the summer season, various guided tours pro-vide visitors with information and entertainment. You can, for instance, take a tour in the company of Elec-tress Sophie or the master gardeners of the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen. The winter season fea-tures botanical exhibitions and orchid advisory days.

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In addition to the three most famous castles in the Tourism Region Hannover

– Celle Castle, Marienburg Castle in Pattensen and Bückeburg Castle – there are

also many other smaller, but equally well preserved castles set in charming countryside.

Wilhelmstein Island Fortress

CastleLandestrost

Tourismusregion Hannover e. V.www.tourismusregion-hannover.de

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William, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe, had the island fortress of Wilhelmstein built between 1761 and 1767 on a small artificial island in the Steinhuder Meer. This star-shaped fortress has four bastions and a citadel. The very first submarine in the world was stationed here; called the “Pike of Steinhude”, it is said to have operated very successfully in the lake.

Landestrost Castle in Neustadt am Rüben-berge was built between 1573 and 1584 by Duke Erich II of Braunschweig-Lüneburg as a lavish residence in the style of the Weser Renaissance. The castle vaults are home to Niedersachsen’s only sparkling wine cellars, and the high-quality wines produced here have won multiple awards. Guided tours with wine tasting are available for groups of 10+.

There are many more attractions listed on the Tourism Region Hanno-ver adventure map.

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Impressive residences and remarkable buil-dings – in Niedersachsen you will find a rich and extensive heritage of various art

styles and epochs. Even today, the quality and pow-er of these buildings is surprising. Moreover, they also house important artworks and tell many stories from a time when the people were ruled by emperors and kings. In the 12th century the powerful imperial prince Henry the Lion made Braunschweig (Brunswick) his city of residence and even today many buildings in Niedersachsen bear witness to the great influence of the Royal House of Hannover. Of the various epochs that have left their mark on Niedersachsen, the Re-naissance and the Baroque are now the most visible. Charming medieval towns full of half-timbered buil-dings and enchanting palaces are the finest remin-ders of the Renaissance, which stretched from 1350 to 1650 and was one of the most innovative epochs in human history. The historic townscapes of Nieder-sachsen bear impressive witness to our cultural histo-ry and invite modern visitors to take a relaxed stroll through the streets.


Regal periods & castle fortresses

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Feudal glory

In addition to the many cultural highlights, the museums and gal-leries of Celle also create a link between different epochs. Nota-ble examples here are the “24-Stunden-Kunstmuseum” (24-Hour Art Museum) and the Bomann Museum – the third biggest mu-seum in Niedersachsen. Moreover, the town contains the big-gest cohesive half-timbered ensemble in Europe with over 500 half-timbered houses (dating mostly from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries) in the old town alone – a feature that makes this town truly unique.

Celle Castle (1292), which includes the Residenz Museum, is one of the most beautiful German castles of the Royal House of Hannover. Visitors will feel courtly history come alive again, with Celle as a Baroque residence, the place of exile of the Dan-ish Queen Caroline Matilda and the summer residence of the kings of Hannover in the 19th century. The Baroque State Rooms feature superb stucco ceilings by Italian masters while other im-

pressive rooms of the castle display rulers of the House of Celle, which once gave birth to kings of Prussia and Great Britain. The “King’s Hall” contains imposing pictures and selected treasures from the time of the personal union between Britain and Han-nover and the Kingdom of Hannover in the 18th and 19th cen-turies.

The Castle Theatre is the oldest Baroque theatre in Germany that regularly hosts performances.

Another notable feature is the Castle Chapel, constructed in 1485, with Renaissance interior design from 1565 and the pic-ture series from this time that includes over 70 paintings.

BraunschweigThe Lion City

The Lion City www.braunschweig.de

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Braunschweig (Brunswick) is the largest city in the re-gion between Hannover and Berlin and it has several large parks. The River Oker loops around the city centre and creates an oasis of peace amidst the urban hustle and bustle. Right in the middle of the city lies the Guelph Palace, known as the Residenzschloss. After its destruc-tion, the facade was completely restored using original architectural elements. The Schlossmuseum (Palace Mu-seum) presents the varied history of the palace since its construction in the period 1833 to 1841. Before the gates of the city lies Richmond Palace, an outstanding example of late-Baroque architecture. The palace was built in a superb location above the Oker, while the ad-joining park is laid out in the style of a classical English landscape garden. The Riddagshausen Europe Bird Re-serve also serves as local recreational area and fea-tures idyllically situated lakes and the natural country-side around the Cistercian abbey.

Discover the Lion City on a weekend trip. Arrange your stay to fit your own interests: explore Braunschweig on a tour of the city’s sights, visit fascinating exhibitions or be thrilled by exciting crime stories that are read aloud dur-ing a raft trip on the River Oker.

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CelleRoyal residence with

unique flair

Tourismus und Stadtmarketing Celle GmbHwww.celle-tourismus.de

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Südheide Gifhornwww.suedheide-gifhorn.de

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Duke Francis had this moated castle built in Renaissance style in 1525. The historical museum contains the great wolf that was shot near Gifhorn in 1956 – just one of the items sure to appeal to children, along with the museum rally. In the vault-ed cellar, Pater Laurentius treats his guests to medieval dish-es. And the castle courtyard is a popular venue for events, such as the entertaining “Allerlay Speyß vonn Spiess” cultural festival in May and the atmospherically illuminated Advent market in December.

in the SüdheideGifhorn Castle– A residence of the Royal House of Hannover

In Niedersachsen all the style epochs are brought to life – and you can join the history trail. Discover

medieval fortresses, cross castle moats and take part in spectacular knights’ festivals. Ascend the towers of the castles and enjoy breathtaking views across superb, skilfully laid-out gar-dens. Is the castle haunted? Or is it just the good spirits of the kitchen who look forward to serving you the best of Niedersachsen’s cuisine, from a hearty knights’ banquet to a prince-ly delicacy? Have you always wanted to be kissed awake by your fairy-tale prince? Then marry in royal style in the wonderful-ly romantic ambience of a splendid castle. Enjoy the grand atmosphere at a garden festival or a concert, or take important de-cisions in historical surroundings during a conference in the Knights’ Hall.


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Wolfenbüttel Palace contains the only state and private apartments of the High and Late Baroque in Niedersachsen. For some 400 years up to the year 1754, the palace served as the residence of the Dukes of Braun-schweig (Brunswick) and Lüneburg. Created from a medieval castle and a Renaissance palace, the superb facades and exceptional state apart-ments of Wolfenbüttel Palace now make it a complete baroque artwork.

Various notable personalities of German and European history were born in the palace, grew up here or were active at the court. The later Empress Elisabeth Christine – the wife of Emperor Charles VI, mother of Empress Ma-ria Theresa and grandmother of the French Queen Marie Antoinette – was born here, as was Duchess Anna Amalia of Sachsen-Weimar-Eisenach, who gave her name to the famous Weimar Library. Two famous visitors to the palace were Electress Sophie of Hannover and her son, the later King George I of Great Britain, while other illustrious visitors to Wolfenbüt-tel Palace included Tsar Peter the Great of Russia and the Prussian King Frederick William I, the Soldier King, and his son Frederick the Great.

The ducal apartments are the only ones of their kind in Niedersachsen and here one can gain an idea of everyday courtly life in the age of ab-solutism. Every Sunday at 10.00 am, visitors can experience various as-pects of the courtly culture during a guided tour.

The rich history of this region manifests itself in treasures of the past, pacesetters of the present day and laboratories of the future.

ZeitOrte (time places) are historic settings such as excavated, geologi-cally unique phenomena, archaeological excavations, medieval build-ings or complexes, libraries of the Enlightenment, old factory prem-ises, modern sites of art and architecture, museums of the future and world-renowned production facilities.

Embark on exciting journeys through time in our castles:

… follow the trail of the Royal House of Hannover in medieval Braunschweig (Brunswick) at Dankwarderode Castle and the Residenzschloss (Residential Castle) with its newly opened museum.… enjoy the delights of the Baroque as you wander through Wolfenbüttel Castle, a residence of the Royal House of Hannover. … visit inspiring museums in the Renaissance-era castles of Gifhorn and Wolfsburg and in Brome Castle. … take a trip in the time machine at Salder Castle in Salzgitter. … discover the Archaeology Park at Werla Imperial Castle. … experience the fascinating history of important castle ruins. … discover picturesque cloister sites and imposing church buildings.… and as you travel through the region, visit countless manor houses with impressive parks and gardens.

There are more than 80 ZeitOrte awaiting you. With stories that range from primordial times through to the present day and divided into six different epochs, you can be sure of enjoyable and fascinating experi-ences. Begin your voyage of discovery!

PalaceWolfenbüttel

Emperors,crowns,and dazzling jewels:

Welcome to the land of time travel

Experience the Baroque

During the “Evening with Casanova at Wolfenbüttel Palace” (dinner theatre) you can listen to stories told by the bon vivant and enjoy a Prosecco and a three-course meal, including beverages, in the fes-tively decorated Renaissance Hall of the palace. It was at Wolfenbüttel that Cas-anova spent “the best weeks of his life”. Price: € 59.90 p.p., Bookings: p +49 (0) 5331 - 86 280.www.wolfenbuettel-tourismus.de

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Wolfenbüttel Palace · www.schlosswolfenbuettel.de 13

ZeitOrte - Expeditions to time-travel land Heide | BraunschweigerLAND | Harz mountainswww.ZeitOrte.de

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Don’t miss the culinary delights of time-travel land either – there’s so much to enjoy, from farmhouse ca-fés to starred gastronomy. Would you have guessed that our time-travel land has the highest concen-tration of starred cooks in Nied-ersachsen? You can dine and indulge yourself in style at many castles in the region – so ask us about the insider’s tips!

Did you know that for centuries the ruling dynas-ty of the Guelphs had its roots and residences here? Emperor Lothair was born in Süpplinge-burg and chose the impressive imperial cathe-dral at Königslutter as his royal burial site. Hen-ry the Lion bequeathed unique cultural treasures to posterity, and you can discover these on your journey through time.

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Take a special guided tour with Monsieur de La Marche, the dancing master to his most gracious Duke of Braunschweig and Lüneburg, who leads his guests on an entertaining trail, spiced with am-orous stories, through the superb halls, apartments and closets of world-famous Wolfenbüttel Palace. Booking: p +49 (0) 5331 - 92460 www.schlosswolfenbuettel.de

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Since your childhood have you yearned to pace ancient stone floors like a dam-sel or a knight? In Niedersachsen, fan-tastic castles and manor houses open their gates and invite you to spend a night in the finest style. Castles offer a very special ambience, because no-blesse oblige: logs crackle in the bed-room hearth and languorous cello mel-odies drift from hidden loudspeakers. Your toes sink into the luxuriant carpet

and in the middle of the room stands a four-poster bed that would delight a princess. Now you can appreciate that a night in these lordly bedchambers will bring you delightful rest and the sweet-est dreams. And when you awake, the butler will bring you breakfast in bed. Your journey through time continues out-side the medieval walls. Beautifully laid-out gardens, idyllic castle ponds and statues and fountains are waiting to

be discovered by you. Take a leisurely stroll through the castle gardens like the fine ladies and gentlemen of yesteryear. Many a heart has been taken by storm during extended walks on these delight-ful paths...

For more information on overnight stays in castles and manor houses, please go to www.niedersachsen-tourism.com.

Dreams

The castle ruin has a history going back 1000 years and now forms the venue for stories with a fairy-tale touch: during a one-hour guided tour of the castle, visitors take a trip back in time. One of the his-torical vaults now accommodates a regis-try office. And from time to time the castle ruin becomes the romantically lit back-drop for concerts and theatre events.

At the foot of the historic castle ruin lies the Hardenberg Keilerland estate with various attractions: the Gräflich von Hardenberg‘schen (Count of Harden-berg) corn distillery with its continuing tradition of distilling fine spirits, the Hard-enberg Keilerschänke tavern, the Keiler-laden shop and the romantic Castle Park. The Hardenberg Atrium regularly hosts lively celebrations and classical concerts. And every year the Hardenberg eques-trian arena is the scene of an internation-al show-jumping tournament: the Harden-berg Burgturnier.

History at first handThe exhibition “Revolution From Above – Prussia’s state chancellor Karl August von Hardenberg” in the Old Customs Store-house visitors’ centre presents visual and text panels that recount the career and pri-vate life of Karl August von Hardenberg. The story begins with his student years in

Göttingen and Leipzig and continues with his term as Prussian foreign minister and his subsequent appointment as state chan-cellor. The exhibition also includes faith-fully reproduced clothing from the period 1790 to 1810. Original antique furniture owned by the comital Von Hardenberg family provide insights into the time of the Prussian state chancellor.

The Castle ParkVisitors can follow winding paths through the extensive Castle Park with its large pond, its lawns and old, gnarled trees. With a little luck, one can watch proud horses being ridden in the practice arena in the middle of the romantic park.

Hardenberg Castle, which still serves as a residence, occupies an imposing position at the edge of the Castle Park and can be admired from a distance.

Hardenberg also has a fine reputation in the world of art and culture: the Cas-tle Park hosts various exhibitions such as the “Klassika Festival” for garden art and lifestyle, and “Kunst im Park” which fea-tures changing sculpture exhibitions. In the winter season part of the park is trans-formed into an ice-skating paradise – the 1,200 m² Hardenberg ice-rink is the larg-est in the region.

Gräflicher Landsitz HardenbergHardenberg is the home of the well-known brand of spirits that features the boar’s head. The beverages are natu-ral, authentic and boast a fine tradition. The striking boar’s head is also the sym-bol of the tourist brand: Gräflicher Land-sitz Hardenberg (Comital Country Seat of Hardenberg). This umbrella brand unitesthe Relais & Châteaux Hardenberg Burg-Hotel, the design-oriented Hotel Freigeist, the nearby Hardenberg Golf Resort and the Hardenberg Keilerland estate with its varied events. The Gräfliche Landsitz Hardenberg is always a fine destination for short-break visitors, groups and day-trippers, families and bridal couples, con-ference and golf guests – and all just 10 minutes away from the university town of Göttingen.

“Experience, enjoy, relax” – that’s the Hardenberg trinity.

CastleHardenberg

The ruin of

Fine entertainnment:· Gräflich von Hardenberg‘sche corn distillery · Castle ruin· Permanent exhibition “Revolution From Above – Prussia’s state chancellor Karl August von Hardenberg”· Registry office in a historical vault· Castle Park· Guided tours of the castle and the distillery· Agricultural guided tour· Hardenberg ice-skating rink (Nov.– Mar.)

More information on the guided tours of the castle, the distillery and local agriculture and on other events is available on p +49 (0) 5503 981 0or on the internet at:www.der-hardenberg.comor visitwww.facebook.com/GraeflicherLand-sitzHardenberg

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Hardenberg Castle Ruinswww.der-hardenberg.com

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The Kaiserpfalz Imperial Castle was built in the period from 1040 to 1050 and is a unique monument in the tradition of secu-lar architecture – a must-see for every visi-tor to Goslar.

The building ensemble of the Imperial Cas-tle was used above all by the Salian em-perors as a favoured residence and even shortly after its completion it impressed contemporaries so much that the chroni-cler Lampert von Hersfeld spoke of the “most famous residence in the empire”. Since 1992 the castle complex, together

with the old town of Goslar and the Ram-melsberg, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage culture site.

For over 200 years, German history was made at the Imperial Castle during numer-ous imperial assemblies and court coun-cils. All the wall compartments of the “aula regia”, the Imperial Hall measuring almost 800 square metres, have been decorated with scenes that recount the history of the Holy Roman Empire. Every hour, a guid-ed tour lets visitors view and appreciate the paintings and learn about the exciting

history of the Imperial Castle through the ages. An exhibition in seven vaults on the ground floor displays outstanding art.

In the Castle Chapel of St. Ulrich, a no-table jewel of medieval architecture, the heart of Emperor Henry III lies under a me-morial slab. The narthex of the cathedral in the vicinity of the Imperial Castle is formed by the preserved foyer of the important ab-bey church of St. Simon and Judas, which was demolished due to dilapidation in 1820. It contains outstanding architectural fragments and the richly decorated sand-stone plinths of the imperial throne.

Today the Imperial Castle functions not only as a museum but also hosts weddings and events. The registry office of the town of Goslar offers various options for wed-dings in the historical rooms, while the im-posing Imperial Hall has also proved itself an excellent venue for conferences.

www.goslar.de

Goslar Imperial CastleWorld Heritage cultural site

The abode of the emperor –

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The crunch of gravel underfoot and delightful flowery scents all around – Niedersachsen’s garden treasures are sure to enchant you.

The best way to enjoy the colourful floral splendour, set off against the lush green lawns, is a long, leisu-rely walk that may also take you past antique statues and romantic ponds. Even today, the charm of bygo-ne days can be experienced in the wonderful gardens: the lordly residences are girdled by ancient ornamen-tal and display gardens, the grounds of monastery and medieval castle gardens. The rulers of Niedersachsen vied with Louis XIV, the Sun King, by emulating his fa-mous Gardens of Versailles. Gardens have been used as places of rest and leisure for many centuries. Po-etry was composed in secluded pavilions and many a romance unfolded in the winding paths of the la-byrinths. Gain an impression of festive courtly culture at a concert, a theatre performance or at the garden festivals that are regularly held in these green jewels.


Moated castles & rose gardens

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The Osnabrücker Land boasts an impressive number of castles and manor houses. De-pending on their epoch or purpose, they can present an elegant, daunting, imposing or romantic face to visitors. Whatever their style, they all reflect a varied and eventful history and the leading personalities who helped to shape it.

Take a journey of discovery: many of these buildings are open to visitors or are popu-lar tourist attractions.

Ippenburg Castle, where the tradition of the German garden festival first began. Since 1998 Viktoria Freifrau von dem Bussche has been organising splendid events in the imposing grounds of the cas-tle several times a year; in 2010 Ippenburg was the venue for the successful State Hor-ticultural Show in Bad Essen and lent ex-tra flair to this major event. Be it the rose island, the kitchen garden or the magical wood, Ippenburg Castle is a source of im-agination and inspiration and a must-see for all garden lovers and fans of rural life. Every year, four celebrations and festivals take place in the castle gardens of this 600-year-old family residence, and thus year for year Ippenburg Castle attracts thousands of visitors from all over Europe to Bad Essen. www.ippenburg.de

Hünnefeld Castle near Bad Essen lies at the end of a romantic avenue. The cas-tle often forms the backdrop for open-air theatre performances and exhibitions and also accommodates a small private mu-seum. In the inner courtyard, dominated by the 18th-century pigeon tower, visitors will find a café in the old Revenues Office where they can enjoy the fairy-tale atmos-phere of the castle at their leisure. Hünne-feld Castle is also an ideal base for ex-ploring the attractive surrounding region and offers both high-class overnight ac-commodation and bed & breakfast op-tions. www.schloss-huennefeld.de

Schelenburg Castle is the finest moated cas-tle in the region, situated in the Bissendorf holiday region. Visitors can rest a while in the shade of the mighty, 12th-century forti-fied tower – or they can enjoy refreshments in the café-restaurant that is housed in the former kitchen of the main building, con-structed in the style of the early Weser Re-naissance. Here you can dine in style, sip a glass of wine on the castle terrace by the moat or enjoy some great entertain-ment during an event dinner. What’s more, the picturesque environs of the castle and its accompanying buildings form a per-fect backdrop for receptions and presenta-tions. www.schelenburg.de

Gesmold Castle near the town of Melle was originally a simple 12th-century resi-dential tower and bastion, and acquired its current baroque appearance in the first half of the 17th century. It is surround-ed by a remarkable garden and park that in 1997 regained its baroque char-acter thanks to its current owners, Hans-Adam Freiherr und Henriette Freifrau von Hammerstein. Today, the grounds have many notable features that visitors can enjoy during an extended stroll. The cas-tle, which is surrounded by three moats, provides theme-oriented guided tours, exhibitions, English-language theatre performances and a small guest shop with selected articles. Moreover, the his-torical orangery now accommodates a wholefood café with fine products and a very special ambience. www.schloss-gesmold.de

The town of Bad Iburg is crowned by the imposing hilltop castle of the same name, with a history going back to the 11th cen-tury. Within its walls you can embark on an impressive journey into the history of the castle, which was also the residence of the Osnabrück prince-bishops and was built as a twin complex with a cloister. During guided tours of the castle and of the castle museum and church, visitors will experience many interesting and startling sights and stories. The baroque Knights’ Hall is the superb venue for high-quality castle concerts, while the historical “Iburg Advent” in the inner courtyards has a spe-cial magic. www.badiburg.de

The castle keep in Fürstenau has been the town’s landmark for over 600 years. For a time this attractive moated castle was the residence of the Osnabrück bishops; today it is an ideal location for couples to celebrate their registry office wedding. The north-east bastion on the castle island is a highly atmospheric venue for celebra-tions and receptions, while caravanners can park opposite the castle and enjoy the historic vistas. www.fuerstenau.de

old treasuresanew!

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Osnabrücker Landwww.osnabruecker-land.de

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Did you know….

that Sophie Charlotte was born at Iburg Castle in October 1668? In 1701, as the consort of Freder-ick I, she became the first Queen of Prussia. Her birth chamber can be viewed during guided tours of the castle.

Experience castles and forts in romantic and first-class style: on a perfectly marked cycling route that takes you past a total of 16 su-perb architectural monuments. Ask about our attractive cycling pack-ages! Tourismusverband Osna-brücker Land: p +49 (0) 541 / 9511195

...simply paradisiacal!

Combine garden enjoyment with cy-cling fun during a short-break trip on our GardenDream Tour. Our 3-day “Von Schloss- und anderen Gärten” (Castle Gardens and More) package will take you in comfort through idyllic landscapes and to fascinating gardens. Information: p +49 (0) 541/9511195, www.gartentraumtour.de

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Discover the Osnabrücker Land in your own in-dividual way as you visit its cultural and spirit-ual locations. You will find fascinating history, startling stories and interesting details regarding castles, manor houses, cloisters and churches of the region in our high-quality image brochures “Zeitreise” (Journey through time) and “Klosterre-ise” (Journey to the cloisters). You can order both these cultural guides from us, or view them online or download them at our website.

For more information, tips and short-break trips relating to this and other themes in the Osna-brücker Land, please call p +49 (0) 541 / 9511195

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In the Osnabrücker Land, the sign with the rose bloom directs cyclists to “Open Gar-dens”. In the United Kingdom the “open gardens” concept is an 80-year-old ever-green, and now the idea of opening pri-vate gardens to interested guests is flow-ering in Germany as well. The special GardenDream Tour in the Osnabrücker Land has its roots in a private initiative that was founded eleven years ago and now links 37 of the most beautiful gar-dens in the region by means of a 169-kil-ometre circular cycling route.

The distances involved enable visitors to view five or six gardens per day in the Os-nabrücker Land. Some of the gardens are fairly small, but people who open up their garden gate to the public are generally happy to talk as well. So you can quick-ly strike up a conversation, share knowl-edge about fuchsias and whatnot and obtain tips and ideas for other gardens. This is one reason why the idea of the open garden is so popular – aside from the fact that people are naturally curious!

The biggest garden on the Dream Tour is Ippenburg Castle. In the other direction, the excellently signposted cycling route takes you along the Mittelland Canal, through the pretty little half-timbered town of Bad Essen and finally to the multi-gen-eration garden at “Meyerhof zu Stirpe”. Be amazed at ancient robinias, a species which one normally thinks of as little house-trees that have been trimmed into ball shapes. Here they have grown to a size of 20 metres or more and now cast their shade across the romantic flowerbeds full of roses and superb herbaceous borders.

In order not to find yourself before a locked garden gate, we recommend that you make a telephone call before visiting some of the private gardens. However, the route also includes various gardens that are always open to the public, often adjacent to museums in the region. At the Eisenzeithaus (‘iron age house’) in Venne, a reconstruction of a prehistoric home, you will find the same cereals and veg-etables being cultivated that people were already eating thousands of years ago. At the Tuchmacher Museum (‘cloth-makers museum’) in Bramsche, idyllically situated on the little River Hase, old dye plants such as weld and woad are cultivated. The Varus-Schlacht-Museum (‘museum of the Varus Battle’) in Kalkriese includes a park as well.

But you can also experience fascinating history lessons in private gardens, discov-er rare shrubs, rhododendrons and other exotic species, and admire startling deco-rative ideas. Each garden has its own sto-ry to tell, and awaits your visit.

Discover GardenDreams –Emsflower

horticulture parkJust follow the roseEmsflower, located in Emsbüren right by the A30/A31 motorway intersection, is Eu-rope’s largest visitable horticulture centre. With a total area of some 100 hectares and a production of up to 500 million plants, it is the European market leader.

The heart of the horticultural centre is the Emsflower horticultural park. With 38.5 hectares currently under glass, this attractive excursion destination for young and old gives visitors barrier-free paths to view parts of Europe’s biggest bedding plant production centre. Light-filled halls with resting spots amid fresh foliage and flower-ing plants ensure that a visit is an unforgettable experience.

In the demonstration greenhouse, known as the “show garden”, visitors can become acquainted with modern cultivation methods. And at the same time they can im-merse themselves in a sea of roses, gerbera and anthuria and enjoy the vibrant col-ours of flowering cucumber plants, ripe capsicums, tomatoes, aubergines and chili peppers. When it comes to vegetables, the centre gives high priority to biological pest control.

The tropical garden creates a touch of holiday atmosphere. Amid exceptional veg-etation with 100-year-old olive trees, lemon trees and orange trees, visitors can rest a while in shady corners. And then continue on their path and marvel at enchant-ing pond landscapes with fully grown koi carp, parrots and the small-bird aviary.

Visitors to the Emsflower garden centre can purchase flower accessories, bedding plants, fresh vegetables and much more. In addition to regularly changing seasonal plants they will also find refined flower arrangements, decorated by expert florists. Children can let off steam in the indoor playground that includes a bouncy castle and in the outdoor play area.

Take a tour of the centre with an expert guide, test your “green fingers” in the “Mini-Emsflower” experience garden or enjoy cu-linary treats in the Mediterrane-an winter garden.

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www.gartentraumtour.de www.emsflower.de

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Bentheim Castle is widely considered one of the oldest and most impressive castles in north-west-ern Germany. Standing high over the valley on top of the mighty sandstone cliffs of the Bentheim Ridge, the castle towers over the small spa town. Bentheim is first mentioned in historical records in 1020. Walls that are five-and-a-half-metres thick and made of solid Bentheim sandstone protect the inhabitants against intruders. A branch of the no-ble family still lives in the castle, a large part of which is open to the general public all year.

History is still very much alive behind these walls in the knights’ hall, the powder tower and the tor-ture chamber. Sandstone is the material that de-fines Bentheim, and nowhere is this more master-fully in evidence than in the Kronenburg wing, which was built in the Gothic style and features spacious chambers with historic furnishings, such as in the Ernst-August-Salon.

Explore the castle in daylight or after dark in a guided torchlight tour. In May, knights, knaves, market women and jesters set up camp at the foot of the castle and sound the trumpets for the start of the Bad Bentheim Knights’ Tournament. Accom-pany the night watchman on his walk around the historic centre of this old spa town and listen to amusing tales of everyday life in the town through the ages, to mysterious rumours and anec-dotes and the traditional songs of the night watchmen. The night watchman tour takes

place on Mondays and Fridays at 9.00 pm.

Bentheim Castle

- built on sand

County of Bentheimwww.grafschaft-bentheim-tourismus.de

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Exchange your vows in princely surroundings: Bentheim Castle’s Ernst-August-Saal – situated in the Gothic Castle of Kronenburg – is a magnificent venue for a wedding fit for kings and queens. Il-luminated by stained glass windows and standing in front of an intricately carved wooden table, the bride and groom can tie the knot in the former roy-al suite under an ancient chandelier. www.grafschaft-bentheim-tourismus.de/service/heiraten.html

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Feast like the knights of yore did in Bad Bentheim. You will, of course, be expected to eat the roast fowl with your hands. What did knights eat back in the olden days? Sweetbreads and maize, boiled and roast pota-toes, lettuce picked from the fields, leg of pork from the tame pigs that roamed the sties, all manner of roast fowl and veritable rivers of mead and wine. www.badbentheim.de

Tip Gems in EmslandThe Baroque hunting lodge of Clemens-werth Castle in Sögel, with its central pavilion surrounded by eight smaller lodges for guests, is the only remaining star-shaped hunting complex in the world. The graceful 18th century buildings unite art and nature to create a wonderful ex-perience. The museum has a wide range of fascinating exhibits, including pieces inspired by Baroque hunting, fine porce-lain, and faience ware from Strasbourg. Numerous events take place here, mak-ing the most of the stunning setting pro-vided by the castle grounds: a museum night, the ParkArt art fair, drag hunting and falconry days, and the “Kleine Fest im großen Park” (small fete in the grand park). www.clemenswerth.de

Altenkamp Manor near Papenburg radi-ates grandeur, power and simplicity. Mag-nificent frescoes dating back to 1750, the impressive Baroque gardens and careful-ly curated art exhibitions make this manor house well worth visiting. www.gut-altenkamp.de

Haren (Ems) features three superb cas-tles and manor houses dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. What makes these buildings so special is that all three are presently used as accommodation for visitors and tourists.

Dankern Castle forms the centrepiece of one of the largest holiday parks in Eu-rope. The magnificent water castle is

surrounded by approx. 700 holiday cot-tages and an incredible choice of leisure and games facilities for all kinds of weather. www.schloss-dankern.de

Düneburg Manor is a paradise for golf-ing enthusiasts. The old manor house with a hotel and restaurant sits at the centre of an 18-hole tournament course. Direct-ly adjacent is the spa resort “EVE Resort” with its luxury holiday cottages. www.eve-resort.de

Landegge Manor (familotel) is a multiple award-winning riding and holiday resort. Visitors who experience its unique atmos-phere for the first time tend to return time and time again. www.gut-landegge.de

Emslandwww.emsland.com

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The Dankern Castle Holiday Park is the ideal holiday location and day-trip destination: a leisure pool with a giant waterslide, open air pool and leisure lake with a water-ski course, a 5000m² indoor playground, a 1000m² ad-venture castle, swimming pool, pony rides, carting ropes course, a cinema and restau-rants – holiday fun for the whole family.www.schloss-dankern.de

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The circular salon in the main pavil-ion of Clemenswerth Castle, the Ba-roque chapel and the abbey gardens provide the perfect backdrop for that very special day. Coach rides, mu-sic, photo shoots and culinary de-lights: Clemenswerth Castle and its Schlosskeller restaurant offer a full range of wedding services. www.clemenswerth.de

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Altenkamp Manor

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Face to face with the duke Oldenburg Castle is a wonderful shade of pale yellow. Duke An-ton Günther built his royal residence on the foundations of a me-dieval water castle. The castle bears the bold signature of Duke Peter Frederick Louis, who at the end of the 18th century built the library wing and decorated and furnished the castle in the Clas-sicist style. Today, the castle houses the State Museum of Art and Cultural History. The museum’s highlights include a collection of paintings by old masters, a collection of works by Johann Hein-rich Wilhelm Tischbein, arts and crafts from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and an excellent collection of works of German classical modernism.

Breathtaking garden art The gardens adjacent to Oldenburg Castle, with their mature trees, magnificent bushes and shrubs, water details and gen-tle meadows, were designed to be a “living painting”. More than 200 years ago, rhododendrons were planted here, and can now be admired as the oldest specimens of this plant in Ger-many. The castle garden was designed and laid out in the Eng-lish landscape park style in the early 19th century by the royal gardener, Bosse.

The clear language of the white stones Very close to the grand castle a surprise awaits those who set foot in the Lamberti Church for the first time: the Neo-Gothic brick church has a rectangular layout on the outside, but has a round hall under a vast dome inside, the result of renovation work at the end of the 18th century. The red brick facade was built around the Classicist rotunda when the Neo-Gothic style became popular. The resulting building symbolises the architec-tural sights and delights that await visitors to the city of Olden-burg, which is widely considered the secret capital of Classicism.

Tourist-Information Oldenburgwww.oldenburg-tourist.de

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OldenburgAn ancient city firmly rooted in the future

Did you know that Oldenburg is one of the world’s centres of hearing? One of the products of Oldenburg’s inventive talent can be found in 80 per cent of all hearing aids worldwide. This was also the inspiration for a very special attraction: the Hearing Garden which surrounds the House of Hearing, a wonderful place to stroll and explore a wide variety of acoustic phenomena. www.oldenburg-tourist.dewww.hoergarten.de

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The International Ceramic Fair Old-enburg, which is held in and around the castle grounds is globally re-nowned. The highlight of the event is the two-day ceramics fair featuring more than 100 of the world’s lead-ing ceramics artists. www.keramiktage.com

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Dream weddings

settingin a fairytale

A very special day deserves a very special setting. Lovers come to Niedersachsen from all over to ex-

change vows. Niedersachsen abounds with picture-per-fect settings for wonderful weddings, memorable places the happy couple will keep in their hearts forever. A wed-ding in a fairytale castle is an occasion steeped in roman-ticism. The bride and groom can exchange vows in the historic castle chapel, dine with their guests in the magnifi-cent courtyard at a sumptuously decorated table and cel-ebrate a joyous reception in the festive ballroom, thus cel-ebrating the start of their new life together in enchanting style. Spent in one of the luxurious castle suites, the wed-ding night is equally stylish: from their window the happy couple can enjoy the wonderful view of the romantic castle gardens. For birthdays and weddings, jubilees and corpo-rate events, Niedersachsen has ancient castles to ensure your special occasion is truly unforgettable.

Further information about dream weddings in Niedersach-sen is available at www.niedersachsen-tourism.com.

The Garden Culture Route comprises several leisure-ly daytrips through north-west Niedersachsen. Expe-rience the amazing variety of the region’s parks and gardens, many of which are true hidden gems simply waiting to be discovered.

The flat plains of the north-west seem to extend for miles. Embedded in the beautiful and varied natural scenery lie historic farmhouses, tranquil villages and charming little towns. The best way of exploring this tranquil region is to take the Garden Culture Route, which will lead you through the prettiest, most inspir-ing corners of this lush countryside. Laid out almost like paintings, over 30 idyllic, individually designed, ele-gant parks and gardens await you. Time literally seems to stand still in these masterful compositions, inviting visitors to enjoy tranquil moments of pure relaxation.

www.route-der-gartenkultur.de

GardenRouteCulture

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More than nature

Lütetsburg Castle Park

Nature-lovers, walkers, treasure hunters and botany enthu-siasts will find an incredible wealth waiting to be discov-ered at Lütetsburg Castle Park, the largest English-style land-scaped park in northern Germany and home to more than 150 species of mature trees and shrubs as well as historic buildings and garden ornaments.

Located only 8 km to the south of the Wadden Sea, in the wide expanse of the East Frisian countryside, a hid-den gem and a masterpiece of the European school of landscaping lies waiting to be explored: the lovingly tend-ed, 30 hectare grounds of Lütetsburg Castle Park. Follow in the footsteps of Theodor Fontane, along meandering paths, back into the 16th century and let the sensitively in-tegrated historic buildings and benches with inscriptions tell you their tales and provide authentic insight into the creation of this jewel of a garden.

Stroll along winding paths and explore nature’s incredible variety. Experience the breathtaking magic of the banks of rhododendron and azalea blossom in May and June, and enjoy the park’s seasonal charm at any time of year.

The Park Café serves seasonal specialities on its sun ter-race or in the old greenhouse under the verdant roof of an ancient vine.

The park is open to the public from May–Sept: 8.00 am– 9.00 pm and Oct–Apr: 10.00 am – 5.00 pm. The entire park is wheelchair accessible; Admission is € 2.

Lütetsburg Castle Parkwww.schlosspark-luetetsburg.de

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Say ‘I do’ in a very special location ...

Celebrate that very special day in one of the exclusive buildings of the park and make it as memorable and magical as the park itself.www.schlosspark-luetetsburg.de/Hochzeiten

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Visit our annual events:

May-June: rhododendron and azalea blossom Ascension Day: large open air religious service in the castle park August: Lütetsburger Jazz Festival(Hager Kulturwochen)September: Autumn in Lütetsburg – stalls and activities for Horse & Hound · Hunting & Fishing · Sports & Leisure · Garden & House · Fashion & Lifestyle

Current events and programme:www.schlosspark-luetetsburg.de/termine

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EvenburgCastle

The castle park has always been open to the general public, a fact that is ap-preciated by both locals and holiday-makers who pop in for a walk and fall in love with this enchanting English land-scape park with Evenburg Castle set at its centre. Situated in southern East Frisia, Evenburg Castle is an old water castle;

after falling into disrepair, it was rebuilt in the 19th century in the Dutch style by the Duke of Wedel. The castle is now owned by the district of Leer. This utterly unique complex is an unmissable attraction for visitors and locals alike. Stroll around the castle grounds, past streams and ponds, mighty trees and over numerous bridges,

and open your senses for nature, architec-ture, art and relaxation. Expert guides of-fer tours of the inside and outside of this important historical monument, taking in the large hall, the magnificent staircase, the lavishly embellished ceilings and the splendid entrance.

Südliches Ostfrieslandwww.suedliches-ostfriesland.de

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Guided tours of the castle and park take place every Sunday at 11.00 am and 2.30 pm. Tickets: adults €3, children (7–17) €1.50 Details of other tours, including brunch, and group prices are avail-able on request. p +49 (0) 491 / 91969617 · www.suedliches-ostfriesland.de

Tip

Can you smell the irresistible aroma coming from the kitchen and hear the sizzling pans? Niedersachsen’s chefs and restaurateurs look forward to pampering your taste buds with their delicious culinary creations. The region’s top restaurants serve exquisite dish-es, award-winning chefs offer world-class cooking. Niedersachsen’s many castles provide the perfect location for a princely meal. Enjoy a lavish medieval-style spread in a castle; take a step back in time into cosy parlours and cellars and savour hearty specialities and sumptuous traditional dish-es. Meals fit for knights and damsels are served and eaten in ancient vaulted cellars with vast open fireplaces. Just don’t expect to find newfangled cutlery: eat with your fin-gers and a dagger, as was customary in the olden days. Dig in!

Further information for gourmets can be found online at www.niedersachsen-tourism.com.

gourmets forPriceless treats

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LegendImprint

Braunschweiger LandThe historical “Allerlay Speyß vonn Spiess” cul-tural festival takes place in the courtyard of Gif-horn Castle in mid or late May. It includes tasty specialities, entertainment and archaeological techniques that visitors can try out for themselves. www.gifhorn4u.de

OldenburgThe International Ceramics Fair, held in August, has an excellent reputation that extends far be-yond the borders of Germany. The central event is the two-day ceramics market with over 100 leading international ceramic artists.www.keramiktage.com

EmslandOn the second weekend of August, Clemenswerth Castle is transformed into a colourful “art mile” full of ceramics, paintings, sculpture etc. Meet the art-ists and hunt down your favourite item!www.clemenswerth.de

WeserberglandThe “Ährensache” agricultural show for the Schaumburger Land, held at Bückeburg Castle on the first weekend of September, always draws many visitors with its rural charm. Many of the exhibitors are from the agriculture and forestry sector.www.schaumburger-landmesse.de

OstfrieslandThe “Lütetsburger Herbst” festival is a unique ex-perience for young and old, with varied stalls and join-in activities relating to hunting and fish-ing, horses and dogs, sports and leisure, home and garden.www.luetetsburger-herbst.de

Markets Knights’ festivals & gatherings

Strolling in gardens and parks

Song & music & tomfoolery

Courtly life

Courtly Christmas

Grafschaft BentheimEvery year at the beginning of May, a host of knights gathers at Bad Bentheim. A medieval mili-tary camp appears below the castle, and accom-panying jugglers, traders and craftsmen enter the castle town.www.grafschaft-bentheim-tourismus.de

Osnabrücker LandThe legendary site of the Varus Battle – “Museum und Park Kalkriese” – presents folk festivals on al-ternating years: the Easter Fires in 2012 and the “Romans and Teutons Festival” at Whitsun in 2013.www.kalkriese-varusschlacht.de

Grafschaft BentheimFrenswegen Abbey near Nordhorn has a rich and varied history. The former Augustinian mon-astery is now an ecumenical meeting place. In May it hosts the Festival of Cultures.www.kloster-frenswegen.de

OstfrieslandEvery year in May the major open-air church ser-vice takes place on Unico Hill. Experience an un-forgettable service in the special surroundings of the castle park.www.schlosspark-luetetsburg.de

Grafschaft BentheimHow did people live over 3000 years ago? Ex-perience this for yourself during the weekends at the Bronze Age Farm in Uelsen. In June, the open days at the Bronze Age Farm are a hive of activity.www.bronzezeithof.de

EmslandThe Falconry Festival takes place at Clemens-werth Castle in September. The flying skills shown by the birds of prey are even more impres-sive in these majestic surroundings. There is also a children’s programme!www.clemenswerth.de

HannoverIn May/June the Herrenhausen Garden Festi-val, featuring more than 150 exhibitors, attracts many visitors to the idyllic Georgengarten where they can stroll at leisure, find beautiful or tasty or practical items and enjoy varied entertainments.www.gartenfestivals.de

Osnabrücker LandThe leading address for garden festivals is and remains Ippenburg Castle in Bad Essen: the Nar-cissus Festival in spring, the “Gartenlust” and “Landvergnügen” festivals in early summer and the “Ländliches Herbstfest” in September.www.ippenburg.de

WeserberglandThe “Landpartie” festival at Bückeburg Castle, which always takes place at the feast of Corpus Christi, has been a favourite with the public for many years. This garden festival has a new mot-to each year.www.landpartie-schloss-bueckeburg.de

HannoverEach summer, the world’s best pyrotechnical teams battle for the trophy at the International Fireworks Competition. On five evenings they conjure up fantastic fiery pictures in the Baroque-style Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen.www.hannover.de/feuerwerk

Braunschweiger LandRichmond Castle with its superb park directly by the River Oker is the perfect scene for a jour-ney back through time, to Baroque-era Braunsch-weig. Courtly life is recreated during the Rich-mond picnic.www.braunschweig.de/richmondfest

ZeitOrteA whole range of festivals, events and markets at castles, manor houses or historical town cen-tres lets visitors experience medieval flair at first hand.www.ZeitOrte.de

Region HannoverWhat happens in the castle when night falls and dim candlelight illuminates the chambers? Take an evening tour with the lady-in-waiting or maidservant and experience the evening before Queen Marie goes into exile.www.schloss-marienburg.com

Braunschweiger LandDine with Pater Laurentius: Pater Laurentius treats his guests to hearty dishes and entertaining sto-ries in the vaulted cellar at Gifhorn Castle.www.gifhorn4u.de

BraunschweigIn the summer the ensemble of the Braunschweig State Theatre moves outdoors. At the “Burgplatz Open-Air” festival, high-quality operas are per-formed in the open air on the Castle Square.www.braunschweig.de

HannoverOld and new music, music theatre, installations, performances and film concerts are all part of the varied programme of the “KunstFestSpiele” arts festival that takes place in the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen in summer.www.kunstfestspieleherrenhausen.de

WeserberglandThe outdoor facilities on the “Culture Island” in Bad Pyrmont provide the ideal setting for the events of the “Pyrmont Summer” and other open-air events. www.staatsbad-pyrmont.de

OstfrieslandA highlight for lovers of music and arts in August: during the “Jazz Weeks”, part of the “Hager Kul-turwochen”, top musicians give performances in a fantastic ambience.www.schlosspark-luetetsburg.de

Region HannoverIn the late summer, visitors can experience con-certs by leading classical, pop and jazz artistes in the romantically illuminated courtyard of Ma-rienburg Castle.www.schloss-marienburg.com

Braunschweiger LandDuring the “Culture Summer” the courtyard of Wolfenbüttel Castle is transformed into a grand open-air stage with theatre, cabaret, comedy and many types of music as well as children’s theatre, dance and song.www.wolfenbuettel.de

Braunschweiger LandThe “Culture Night” is a great event for night owls and culture fans. Artistes from the Wolfenbüttel region present their cultural talents in Wolfenbüt-tel Castle and at 40 further locations.www.wolfenbuettel-tourismus.de

OstfrieslandThe “Kleine Fest im großen Park” (“Little Festival in the Great Park”) is the highlight at Evenburg Castle. Visitors can experience a magical sum-mer evening here with a wide range of artistes.www.kleines-fest-evenburg.de

The castles of Niedersachsen have a lively culture and they provide many

opportunities for events and special ex-periences. Discover history and enjoy the

magic of superb parks and gardens. Go on castle tours in historical costume or let a fine lady lead you around a castle where you can relive bygone days. Events and

markets in historical surroundings let past epochs come to life again.

BraunschweigAt the Braunschweig Christmas Market, the mar-ket stalls shine in festive splendour amid superb medieval surroundings around the cathedrals and in front of the town hall. www.braunschweig.de/weihnachtsmarkt

EmslandIn the Advent period, Clemenswerth Castle is transformed into a sea of lights. The Christmas Market features unusual gifts, stylish Christmas decorations and tasty specialities.www.clemenswerth.de

OldenburgEvery year in the four weeks before Christmas, the Lamberti Market enchants hundreds of thou-sands of visitors.www.oldenburg-tourist.de

Osnabrücker LandThings take a romantic turn in the Christmas peri-od. The Historic Christmas Market in Osnabrück and the “Iburg Advent” at Iburg Castle are in a class of their own.www.osnabrueck.de,www.badiburg.de

WeserberglandFor many people, the Christmas magic at Bücke-burg Castle is part of the pre-Christmas ritual. Be-tween the first and second Sundays in Advent, exhibitors and traders transform the park and the castle into a magical winter landscape.www.weihnachtszauber-schloss-bueckeburg.de

Braunschweiger LandChristmas market in Wolfenbüttel Castle: eve-ry year during the first weekend of Advent this Christmas craft market draws visitors to the noble ambience of the castle.www.wolfenbuettel.de

Braunschweiger LandOn the first weekend of Advent, Gifhorn Castle and the castle courtyard are festively illuminated for the Castle Market. Craftspeople, storytellers and domestic music all help to recreate the at-mosphere of historical Christmas markets.www.gifhorn4u.de

Courtly experiences special events

PublisherTourismusMarketing Niedersachsen GmbHEssener Straße 130173 Hannover

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Responsibility for the content of editorial articles lies exclusively with the respective partners and hosts.

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active & outdoorsHiking, cycling and more in Niedersachsen

town & cityscapes Stroll and discover Niedersachsen


Adresses

Marienburg CastleMarienberg 1 30982 Pattensenp +49 (0) 5069 348-000f +49 (0) 5069 [email protected] www.schloss-marienburg.com

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Bückeburg CastleSchlossplatz 1 31675 Bückeburgp +49 (0) 5722 9091-82f +49 (0) 5722 [email protected] www.schloss-bueckeburg.de

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Kulturzentrum Weserrenaissance Schloss BevernSchloss 137639 Bevernp +49 (0) 5531 9940-10 o. 12164-36f +49 (0) 5531 9940-20 o. [email protected]@t-online.dewww.schloss-bevern.de

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Bad Pyrmont CastleSchlossstraße 1331812 Bad Pyrmontp +49 (0) 5281 956950-0f +49 (0) 5281 [email protected]

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Porzellanmanufaktur FÜRSTENBERG GmbHMuseum im SchlossMeinbrexener Straße 237699 Fürstenberg/Weserp +49 (0) 5271 401-161f +49 (0) 5271 401-4163museum@fuerstenberg-porzellan.comwww.fuerstenberg-porzellan.com

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The Royal Gardens of HerrenhausenHerrenhäuser Straße 430419 Hannoverp +49 (0) 511 168-47576f +49 (0) 511 168-47374herrenhaeuser-gaerten@hannover-stadt.dewww.herrenhaeuser-gaerten.de

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Tourismus Region Hannover e. V.Vahrenwalder Str. 7 30165 Hannoverp +49 (0) 511 3661-981f +49 (0) 511 [email protected] www.tourismusregion-hannover.de

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Braunschweig – die LöwenstadtSchild 438100 Braunschweigp +49 (0) 531 470-2048 f +49 (0) 531 [email protected] www.braunschweig.de

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Südheide Gifhorn GmbHMarktplatz 138518 Gifhornp +49 (0) 5371 88175f +49 (0) 5371 [email protected]

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ZeitOrte – TourismusRegion BraunschweigerLAND e. V.Willy-Brandt-Platz 338440 Wolfsburgp +49 (0) 5361 89993-33f +49 (0) 5361 [email protected] www.ZeitOrte.de

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Wolfenbüttel PalaceMuseumSchlossplatz 1338304 Wolfenbüttelp +49 (0) 5331 9246-0f +49 (0) 5331 [email protected]

orTourist-Information Wolfenbüttel p +49 (0) 5331 86280 www.wolfenbuettel-tourismus.de

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Hardenberg BurgRuineGräflicher Landsitz Hardenberg37176 Nörten-Hardenbergp +49 (0) 5503 8020f +49 (0) 5503 [email protected]

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Tourismusverband Osnabrücker Land e. V.Krahnstraße 52/5349074 Osnabrückp +49 (0) 541 95111-95f +49 (0) 541 [email protected]

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Grafschaft Bentheim Tourismus e. V.van-Delden-Str. 1–748529 Nordhornp +49 (0) 5921 96119-6 f +49 (0) 5921 96119-7 [email protected]

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Emsland Touristik GmbHOrdeniederung 149716 Meppenp +49 (0) 5931 44-2266f +49 (0) 5931 [email protected]

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Tourist-Information OldenburgKleine Kirchenstraße 1026122 Oldenburgp +49 (0) 441 361613-66f +49 (0) 441 [email protected]

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Castle Park LütetsburgLandstraße 5526524 Lütetsburgp +49 (0) 4931 4254f +49 (0) 4931 [email protected] www.schlosspark-luetetsburg.de

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Touristik GmbH “Südliches Ostfriesland” Ledastraße 1026789 Leerp +49 (0) 491 91969610f +49 (0) 491 [email protected] www.suedliches-ostfriesland.de

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Tourismus und Stadtmarketing Celle GmbHMarkt 14–1629221 Cellep +49 (0) 5141 12-12f +49 (0) 5141 [email protected]

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Bad Pyrmont Spa GardensSchlossstraße 1331812 Bad Pyrmontp +49 (0) 5281 956950-0f +49 (0) 5281 [email protected]

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The latest brochures and leaflets for the travel destination Niedersachsen can be obtained online at no cost by going to www.niedersachsen-tourism.com or by calling +49 (0) 511/270 488-50.

For excursion tips, events highlights and rou-te planners for your Niedersachsen holiday go to: www.niedersachsen-tourism.com. With a newsletter subscription you will re-gularly receive additional holiday ideas for Niedersachsen as your travel destination of choice.

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Ostfriesland: Fort Berum Fort Berum stands sheltered by tall trees just mi-nutes from the sea. Step through the castle gate to enter one of the most significant sites in the history of Ostfriesland (East Frisia). Whatever the season, the stout walls of this ancient building pro-vide guests with a snug, secure home in each of the nine apartments for 2–5 people. www.burgberum.de

Osnabrücker Land: Forum Kloster Malgarten Surrounded by tranquil countryside extending an irresistible invitation to switch off and unwind, the nunnery with its Romanesque cloisters and Ba-roque parsonage and lodge is a centre of art and culture. The 16 nuns’ cells have been preserved in all their original simplicity and now serve as guest rooms. Forum Kloster Malgarten also comprises four large function rooms for celebrations and se-minars. www.forum-kloster-malgarten.de

Osnabrücker Land: Castle Hünnefeld This manor house was first documented in 1146. The present building dates from around 1600. On the upper floor of Café Alte Rentei, there are three attractive, individually furnished doub-le rooms offering views of the Wiehen Hills. The castle grounds are wonderfully peaceful and ro-mantic, a perfect place to enjoy a moment of per-fect stillness. www.schloss-huennefeld.de

Land zwischen Elbe und Weser: Diedrichshof and Hoetger GardenInspired by Paula Modersohn-Becker, sculptor/architect Bernhard Hoetger (1874–1949) bought this estate in the artists’ village of Worpswede and erected sculptures around the landscaped garden. Today, the garden has been restored to its original state and reopened, and the former residence has been converted into a conference hotel. Each of the 13 single and 9 double rooms has been individually decorated and furnished in country-house style. www.diedrichshof.de

Lüneburger Heide: Castle Lüdersburg This 18th century manor house nestling in the pic-turesque landscape of the Niedersächsische Elb-talaue (Elbe valley meadows) Biosphere Reser-ve is an exquisite hotel and golf complex today. Whether you book a room in the nostalgic ma-nor house or in the sumptuous mews conversion, a stay at romantic castle Lüdersburg comes with a feel-good guarantee. www.schloss-luedersburg.de

Braunschweig Region: Fort WarbergThis 800-year-old moated castle provides a breath - taking setting for conferences and a variety of events. Situated on the northern rim of Elm Nature Reserve, the fort offers guests generously appoin-ted rooms where they can relax and regenerate. www.burg-warberg.de

Region Hannover: Wilhelmstein Island FortressThree lovingly furnished rooms await guests in the historical soldiers’ quarters of the Wilhelmstein is-land fortress in the middle of the Steinhuder Meer. Once the last sightseeing boat of the day has de-parted, over night guests are the only people left on the island – apart from the island’s reeve – and can revel in the atmosphere and live for a spell like Count William of Schaumburg-Lippe, who had the 1.25-hectare fortress-island built. www.wilhelmstein.de

Region Hannover: Manor RemeringhausenRomantic Remeringhausen manor house is situa-ted in the Schaumburger Land region of northern Germany. As well as rooms steeped in history in-side the manor house, the estate also boasts more than 1000m2 of indoor space for weddings, pro-duct presentations, company anniversaries and other events. Six individually designed rooms of-fer guests the chance to spend the night in peace-ful surroundings after a successful celebration. www.gut-remeringhausen.de

Region Hannover: Moated Castle HülsedeThis moated manor house at Hülsede is a typical specimen of early Weser Renaissance architec-ture and dates from 1529. Its four large, elegant halls, the manor kitchen, vaults, inner courtyard, courtyard buildings and park combine to make the ideal setting for a host of exclusive events. The two double rooms inside the manor house are fur-nished with fine antiques and modern ensuite ba-throoms. www.wasserschloss-huelsede.de

Region Hannover: Manor ObergThe medieval manor house situated south of Peine and on the edge of the Hildesheimer Börde today houses the Graf von Oberg castle hotel, comple-te with conference facilities and an English lands-caped garden. Bare oak beams create a snug at-mosphere in the guest rooms, and along with the Tristan cellar bar with its vaulted ceiling and fire-place and the conference room with its ancient coat-of-arms chimneypiece above the hearth all combine to create an exceptionally historical at-mosphere. www.hotel-graf-oberg.de

Weserbergland: Castle Hotel Münchhausen This extensively restored castle hotel has been returned to all its former glory and today offers guests a renaissance in princely hospitality. A ha-ven of peace amid restored castle gardens. The five-star hotel has 30 rooms inside the castle buil-ding and 36 in the tithe barn. www.schlosshotel-muenchhausen.com

Weserbergland: Burghotel Hardenberg The Burghotel Hardenberg has a total of 43 sing-le and double rooms. Tucked away among gent-ly rolling hills, it offers guests a winning combina-tion of classic elegance, rural idyll, intact nature on the doorstep and modern comforts. www.burghotel-hardenberg.de

accommodationRoyal

For more details about events and accom-modation, please visit:www.niedersachsen-tourism.com

Copyright and/or usage rights of the images rest/s with the following persons / institutions:

Front page: Castle Park LütetsburgPage 5 (Events): Emslandmuseum Schloss ClemenswerthPage 8–9 (Marienburg Castle): Stiftung Rittergut HämelschenburgPage 14 (The Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen): Herrenhäuser Gär-ten / Nik Barlo jr., Herrenhäuser Gärten / Hassan MahramzadehPage 19 (Braunschweig): Braunschweig Stadtmarketing/Sascha Gramann (ZeitOrte): FOTOSBK/Andreas Greiner-Napp; Schloss WolfenbüttelPage 23 (Goslar Imperial Castle): GOSLAR marketing GmbHPage 26 (Osnabrücker Land): Ippenburg CastlePage 28 (GartentraumTour): Tourismusverband Osnabrücker Land e. V.

Page 29 (Emsflower): VVV Emsbüren Touristik GmbHPage 31 (Emsland): Emslandmuseum Schloss ClemenswerthPage 33 (Garden Culture Route): Ammerland-Tourist-InformationPage 36 (Courtly experiences and special events): Hannover Marketing und Tourismus GmbH / Michael SiebertPage 37 (Courtly experiences and special events): Emslandmuseum Schloss Clemenswerth, Schloss Bückeburg, Grafschaft Bentheim Tourismus e. V. / Anneke Drees

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If not listed here, the copyrights and/or usage rights are held bythe respective originators of the editorial articles.

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best connections

to all regions of niedersachsen › › ›

Enjoy the many benefits of Hannover Airport: A wide range of services, short distances on site, easy

access to the German rail network and the airport‘s own motorway junction to the major axes A2 and A7.

Hannover Airport is well connected to all parts of Niedersachsen.

Hannover Airport is also one of the best destinations in Northern Germany for excursions. As well as

fascinating airport tours, it is also worth visiting Hannover Airport‘s interactive experience exhibition,

World of Aviation! You will be amazed by the many exhibits, learn about aviation history and technology,

enjoy the view from the observation deck, and discover hands-on aircraft parts and a true-to-original

Airbus A320 flight simulator.

Hannover Airport – Your first choice in Niedersachsen!

www.hannover-airport.de

castles, forts, parks and gardens - Travel back in time to the Royal Route in Niedersachsen

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Transcript of castles, forts, parks and gardens - Travel back in time to the Royal Route in Niedersachsen