Hanover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Germany. It also was the capital of the administrative area Hanover region until Lower Saxony's regions were disbanded at the beginning of 2005. It is, however, still part of the Region Hannover, which is a municipal body made up from the former district and city of Hanover

The town was founded in medieval times on the bank of the river Leine (the original name Honovere may be translated as "high bank", though it is debated). It was a small village of ferrymen and fishermen, which became a comparatively large town in the 13th century. In the 14th century the main churches of Hanover were built, as well as a city wall with three town gates to secure the city.

In 1636 the Duke of Calenberg decided to move his residence to Hanover. His duchy was afterwards known as the Duchy of Hanover (see: House of Hanover). His descendants would later become kings of the United Kingdom; the first of them was George I, who ascended to the British throne in 1714. Three kings of the United Kingdom were at the same time Electoral Princes of Hanover.

During the Seven Years' War on July 26, 1757 the Battle of Hastenbeck took place. The French army defeated the Hanoverian Army of Observation, leading to the occupation of Hanover.

New Town Hall in HanoverAfter Napoleon imposed the Convention of Artlenburg (Convention of the Elbe) on July 5, 1803 about 30,000 French soldiers occupied Hanover. The convention also meant the disbanding of the army of Hanover. George III did not recognize the Convention of the Elbe and made an effort to recruit foreign troops. As a result a great number of soldiers of Hanover eventually emigrated to England leading to the King's German Legion which later played an important role in the Battle of Waterloo. At the Congress of Vienna in 1814 George III elevated the electorate to the Kingdom of Hanover. The capital town Hanover expanded to the western bank of the Leine and grew considerably.

In 1837 the personal union of the United Kingdom and Hanover ended as William IV's heir in the United Kingdom was female, and Hanover could be inherited only by males. Hanover continued as a kingdom until 1866, when it was annexed by Prussia. After the annexation, the people of Hanover opposed the Prussian regime. Nevertheless, the growth of Hanover continued until World War II, when two thirds of the town was bombed to ruins. After the war, Hanover was in the British zone of occupation of Germany, and later became famous for hosting commercial expositions such as the CeBIT and the Hanover Fair. In 2000, Hanover hosted the Expo 2000. The Hanover fairground, due to numerous extensions especially for the Expo 2000, is the largest in the world.

Sights

Kröpcke (the most central square in Hanover and a favourite city-centre meeting place)
Market Square (oldest square in Hanover and the very centre of urban expansion)
Ballhof Square (created in the 1930s during a re-development process)
Old Town (during the rebuilding of Hannover after World War II, parts of the remaining buildings, mainly the façades, were relocated and accumulated in this area)
Kreuzkirche (Church of the Holy Cross, built in the 14th century)
Marktkirche (church at the market square, built in the 14th century)
Aegidienkirche (built in the 14th century, destroyed in 1943, today a memorial for victims of war and violence)
Leineschloss (castle on the river Leine, today the seat of Lower Saxony's parliament)
Altes Rathaus (old town hall at the marketplace, build in the 15th century)
Herrenhäuser Gärten (baroque garden and park ensemble, founded in 1666 by Duke Johann Friedrich of Calenberg)
Mausoleum (last resting place of the royal family, built 1846 by Laves)
Opernhaus (opera house, built 1845-1852 based on a plan drawn by Laves)
Welfenschloss (guelfs castle, built 1857-1866 as residence of king George V, rebuilt 1875-1879 as seat of the university)
Christuskirche (Christ Church, built 1859-1864 by Conrad Wilhelm Hase in neo-Gothic style)
Neues Rathaus (new town hall, built 1901-1913 based on plan by Eggert and Halmhuber)
Maschsee (artificial lake, affectionately called the "blue eye" of Hanover)
Eilenriede (big inner-city forest, affectionately called the "green lung" of Hanover)
Skulpturenmeile (street art project started in the 1970s with sculptures from John Henry, Niki de Saint Phalle, Kenneth Snelson and many others)
Gehry Tower (post-modern building in the inner city near the Steintor Square)
Hermesturm (steel skeleton tower at the exhibition grounds in Laatzen)
VW Tower (old broadcast tower near the central bus station)
Telemax (new broadcast tower in Hannover-Buchholz, highest building in Hanover)

Recommended Day Trips:

Hildesheim: beautiful medieval town famous for its UNESCO-cultural heritage Cathedrals, marketplace and old half-timbered houses; also for its Pelizäus Museum with an important section on ancient Egypt
Hamelin (Hameln): the beautiful town is famous for the folktale of The Pied Piper of Hamelin

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