“The Garden is my life.” Electress Sophie’s words echo through the ages. Welcome to the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen. They stand as one of Europe’s most beautiful garden parks. These gardens began over 300 years ago. They showcase garden art in its finest form.
The gardens started as a pleasure garden. The royal court enjoyed it immensely. Electress Sophie planned the gardens from 1676 to 1714. Today, they span 135 hectares.
The Grosser Garten or Great Garden retains its baroque layout. It has remained virtually unchanged for centuries. Visitors enjoy leisurely strolls. They admire the bubbling cascades and fountains. The magnificent parterre captivates all.
The palace suffered destruction during the Second World War. It was reconstructed with a faithful facade. Now, it serves as a modern congress center with an integrated museum. This restores the architectural heart of the Herrenhausen Gardens. The Galerie boasts a fresco-adorned ballroom. The unique historical hedge theatre highlights the royal court’s glamorous past.
For garden lovers, the Berggarten offers a diverse array of plants. Native and exotic species flourish in this botanical garden. The Berggarten holds one of the largest orchid collections worldwide. Majestic magnolia trees and rhododendrons bloom in spring. Prairie perennials and grasses appear in late summer. Swamp and pond scenery offers special interest in winter. A linden tree-lined avenue leads to the mausoleum. Electress Sophie and King George I rest here. Many of their descendants also found their final resting place here.
The Georgengarten features an idyllic landscape garden. Lawns, shrubberies, tranquil ponds and ornamental bridges create a wonderful setting for a walk.
Duke Johann Friedrich commissioned a pleasure garden in 1666. This was south of the modest palace. Elector Ernst August, the Duke’s brother, ascended the throne. He reigned from 1679 to 1698. Herrenhausen then began to bloom. Hanover experienced its greatest development of splendor.
Master gardener Martin Charbonnier designed the Grosser Garten. He followed Electress Sophia’s wishes for three decades. Rare plants arrived from Holland and Hamburg. Wagonloads of orange trees were delivered. Renowned sculptors carved statues. The Graft’s waters framed the garden. This was all based on the Dutch model. The Grosser Garten hosted extravagant festivities. Court society enjoyed gondola rides. Venetian nights and ostentatious masked balls were common.
Herrenhausen in Sophie’s time was a stage for European high politics. It became a meeting place for arts and sciences. Tsar Peter the Great danced with Sophie here. George Frideric Handel composed and played music. The high aristocracy of Europe found entertainment here. The polymath Leibniz pondered philosophy and science. He often paced the garden.
Music, dance and theatre thrive at Herrenhausen today. Drama in the hedge theatre, concerts, and festivals occur. World-class small-scale performing arts are presented. International fireworks competitions enliven the Grosser Garten. All this happens throughout the year.
The Berggarten has a long history. Its mulberry plantation dates back to 1704. Numerous plants remind us of the Wendland garden dynasty. They were active here for over 100 years. Some splendid trees have witnessed the late 18th century.
Classical-style buildings characterize the Berggarten. These include the library pavilion at the entrance. The mausoleum of the House of Welf sits in the oak grove. A modern building marks the site of the Great Palm House. The Rain Forest House has a transparent dome. Today, it is home to a Sea Life Aquarium.
French/American artist Niki de Saint Phalle modernized the Grotto in 1999. It was her last major work. The three rooms are adorned with glass mosaics and sculptures. They are an interpretation of human life.
The central room, named “Spirituality,” features a spiral of luminous colors. The silver mirror room with its fountain figure “Nana of Herrenhausen” embodies “Day and Life”. The blue room “Night and Cosmos” illustrates shooting stars. They lead dancing female figures into the cosmos. The Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen await your return.