Hanovre, 3 hôtels

Germany’s most spectacular zoon is located in Hannover, with more than 3,000 animals living in seven unique habitat zones. Visitors can explore different worlds, from taking a boat trip along the Zambezi, visiting the fascinating Gorilla Mountain or venturing into the Australian Outback. There are up to 31 shows and feeding sessions per hour, as well as countless baby animals - including 5 young elephants - to admire. In the Canadian landscape, ‘Yukon Bay’, you can see the polar bears both above ground and underwater. This is an experience that only a handful of zoos worldwide can offer.

One of Europe’s best maintained and most significant baroque gardens, the Great Garden attracts around half a million visitors a year. Designed along French lines, this masterpiece of baroque botanical art incorporates several special and model gardens, an Open-Air theatre, orangery and much more. To the north of the Great Garden is the Berggarten, a botanical show-garden with around 11,000 types of plants. Europe’s biggest orchid collection is kept here, as well as spectacular cacti and year-round blooms.

The new Rathaus, a magnificent building dating from 1913, is one of the city’s best known landmarks. It is worth visiting this building for the excellent views from the dome alone. You will be transported here via an internationally unique type of elevator. The passage upwards begins on a vertical, before arching to 17 degrees. As the elevator ascends, there is the possibility of looking out through two windows - one in the roof and one on the floor, which is revealed with the flick of a switch. Once in the dome you will enjoy magnificent views across the city, even to the Harz.

The Maschsee in one of Hanover’s most famous and popular excursion destinations. The lake is popular among watersports enthusiasts. Whether sailing, rowing, pedal-boating or surfing, there is ample opportunity to have fun on the water. It’s also pleasant to relax on the shore. The six kilometre long banks are ideal for sports like cycling, jogging, indoor skating and much more. If you would like to relax after an exhausting day, or simply enjoy the lake’s maritime flair, there are numerous cafes and restaurants to visit along the waterfront.

Experience a little piece of Hannover’s history! At one time, Hannover had an large Old Town, with many half-timbered buildings and narrow laneways. After the Second World War, during which many of these buildings were destroyed, a decision was made to demolish the remaining half-timbered houses and to rebuild them around the market church and the Alte Rathaus. Today, you can still get a sense of how Hannover’s Old Town must once have looked. In a back street, the Burgstraße, you can see Hannover’s oldest townhouse, which dates from 1566. Not far away, you would find the city’s oldest church. Become a part of history and discover Hannover’s Old Town!

The Marktkirche, the southern-most example of the renowned north German Gothic brickwork, was built in the 14th century. The height of its tower was curtailed due to straightened financial circumstances. The result was so appealing that it inspired a number of imitators. One of the most famous Germans is buried here: the German Michel. Johann Michel von Obentraut fought in the Thirty Years War at the head of a German-Danish army. He was known as ‘the German Michel’.

It took almost one hundred years to build the Alte Rathaus. The result of these efforts was an architectural gem for the city of Hannover. Its splendid Gothic pinnacles and the clay frieze above the outer right arched window are particularly striking. At one stage, this magnificent building was almost destroyed, but following a citizen’s initiative with energetic protests, such a catastrophe was averted.

The Hannover Staatsoper was built between 1845 and 1852, originally serving as a royal court theatre after the king deemed the castle’s own theatre too small. Today, a wide variety of performances are staged here. Everything from theatrical and operatic classics such as La Traviata and Faust, to ballet, junior opera and various concerts for all ages and interests.

The fascination with these long-extinct animals lives on! At the Münchehagen Dinosaur Park, you will learn all about the magnificent reptiles which roamed across our earth millions of years ago. In the museum’s educational section there are various interactive activities to suit different age groups. In the research department, you will find lots of exciting information about the latest research finds, as well as fossil finds and excavations. There is an adventure area and a large interactive hall for children, with a treasure hunt, gold panning and much, much more.

The A2 Center Altwarmbüchen can be reached on foot from the B&B Hotel Hannover. The centre is open from Monday to Saturday between 10am and 8pm. Perfect, for a shop shopping expedition in the evening. From clothes shops to jewelers, supermarkets, bakeries and chemists, you will find the widest possible range here.