Herrenhausen Gardens
Herrenhäuser Gärten
One of Europe's most important Baroque court gardens, with a Great Garden featuring geometric flowerbeds and an 80-meter fountain, and a Mountain Garden with tropical plant greenhouses.
The Herrenhausen Royal Gardens were laid out in the late 17th century under Electress Sophia of Hanover. They consist of the Great Garden, the Mountain Garden, the Georgengarten and the Welfengarten. The core is the Great Garden, with strictly symmetrical flowerbeds, hedge theaters and a maze. Its great fountain can shoot up to about 70 to 80 meters, making it one of the tallest in European court gardens. The garden also has colorful grottoes decorated by Niki de Saint Phalle and a reconstructed Herrenhausen Palace museum. Across from it, the Mountain Garden has orchid and tropical rainforest greenhouses. A combined ticket for the Great Garden and Mountain Garden costs about 10 euros (slightly more at the summer peak). In summer there are the International Fireworks Competition and 'Serenade' evening light tours, which require advance booking. Take tram lines 4 or 5 from downtown to Herrenhäuser Gärten station.
Opening hours
Apr–Oct approx. 09:00–20:00; winter shortened to around 16:30
Nearby sights
- Wilhelm Busch Museum
- Nanas at Leibnizufer
- Old Town: Marktkirche & Old Town Hall
- Museum August Kestner
- New Town Hall
- Red Thread
- Aegidienkirche Ruin
- Lower Saxony State Museum