The Gardens of Hannover
Herrenhäuser Gärten
The Herrenhäuser Gärten (Royal Gardens), are among the largest and most impressive in Germany and consist of three parts: the Großer Garten (Large Garden), the Berggarten (Mountain/Rock Garden), and the Georgengarten (George Garden). The gardens are in the northwestern part of the city and were once part of the former summer residence of the rulers of Hanover. The palace was destroyed during World War II but the severely damaged gardens were restored to their former glory.
Großer Garten
The Großer Garten was started by Elector Johann Friedrich in 1666, but it was his wife Princess Sophia, who really dictated much of its design. It is a formal Baroque garden with strong French influence spread over 140 acres. It has strong geometric features, sculptures, a maze, cascades, grottos, and an open-air theater. The Große Fontäne (Great Fountain) can blast water up to 82-m (270 feet) in the air – the highest such spout in Europe.
Berggarten
The Berggarten, situated to the north of Großer Garten,was initially a kitchen garden for the royal court but now a botanical garden with 11,000 plants. The greenhouses have the largest collection of orchids on the European mainland and an impressive display of cacti. The mausoleum houses the remains of many members of the House of Hanover.
Georgengarten
The Georgengarten is an English-style landscape park laid out in the 1830s. The two-km (1.2-mile) Herrenhäuser Allee is lined by a double row of lime trees on both sides and leads though this garden to the entrance of the other two. The Georgengarten is unfenced and always open.
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