With fairy-tale architecture and a romantic location between the Harz Mountains and the Oker River the Lower Saxony city of Braunschweig, or Brunswick, is a sought after destination. The city has a proud heritage and its history and fortunes are considered in close harmony with those of Henry the Lion and the only ever Guelph Emperor, his son Otto IV. Henry still stands watch over the city in the form of a great bronze statue of a lion that stands in the Castle square watching visitors and locals. Braunschweig hotels have something to offer everyone from quaint historic buildings to the best of modern luxury and cater for all budgets.
As with many cities in Lower Saxony, visitors flock to enjoy the food and famous German beers and a huge array of beer cellars, pubs, music venues and clubs await those looking for varied nightlife. Many of these are to be found in the very beautiful area around the St Magni Church. This lovely and reserved area features well preserved buildings of a half-timber construction.
The city is very welcoming to visitors and Braunschweig hotels are geared up to offer their guests all the help they can to make their stay enjoyable. Particularly popular times to visit are during special festivals and markets throughout the year. The city hosts an international film festival each year and runs many cultural events such as open-air theater, jazz festivals and medieval festivals.
Its river side location means many Braunschweig hotels offer beautiful views out over the waters. Locals and residents can navigate around the entire city by water. This means the city has the feeling of being in the heart of the countryside and it is an important location for wildlife. There are many fish ponds to see and a European bird reserve. Day trips into the mountains from the city are very popular.
As well as wildlife, the city has much to recommend it. The architecture is a mixture of medieval buildings and reconstructions resulting from extensive damage in World War II. The Guelph Palace itself, dating from 1833 to 1841, was destroyed but has been lovingly restored and now stands proud with its impressive façade reinstated. A platform allows access to the roof from where visitors can enjoy an unrivalled view out over the older parts of the city. Some of the best known of the historic buildings Braunschweig boasts are the Gewandhaus or Cloth Hall, a wonderful town hall the Gothic Altstadthaus, the Blasij Cathedral and Dankwarderode Castle.
The city prides itself on being a city of 'clever minds' and with a plethora of well-known scientists rooted in Braunschweig its future as a modern city of science seems assured. A vast student body attends several respected institutions and well over 250 companies and research institutions have set up headquarters here. For the business traveler, Braunschweig hotels offer all the facilities they might expect from meeting rooms to conferencing facilities to enable their business in the city to run smoothly and efficiently. In 2007 the city was declared Germany's City of Science for the year and this achievement continues to be built upon.
Sports enthusiasts might be surprised at the wide range of events hosted in the city. Football, ballroom dancing, basketball, tennis and American football are all played passionately and thousands go to watch the games and events. A quirky event with a history of more than 700 years is the Schoduvel carnival, a specialized sport just from this area.
Visitors to Braunschweig will find the best shopping to be enjoyed in the region. There is a very high proportion of unique boutique shops and owner-managed specialist shops, meaning there is much more to be found than just the well-known brand stores. That said, modern and comfortable shopping malls do house all the names to be expected. Locally produced goods and crafts are available at weekly markets. The Christmas market is always popular. Centered on the Cathedral, delicious treats and delicacies and skilled crafts are available for eager visitors to peruse. The city also runs special events like 'Moonlight Shopping' where shops remain open until midnight. Twinkling lights from the medieval buildings turn this into an almost magical experience.
Euro Currency
0.7607- |
1.1950
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