Hannover (31/08/2018)

After taking the plane from Budapest, we landed in the German city of Hannover and having still some time we decided to visit the city center before our bus would leave for Hamburg. After taking the S-Bahn, the local train network, we reached the center in about half an hour. We then continued on foot and entered the Mitte, the central part of Hannover, where the old town is located. Our first stop was the Am Markt, the main square, where the old town hall is located. Originally built during the 15th century in the Gothic style it was then saved from destruction during the 19th century, and thus renovated in the neogothic style. Right in front of it stands the Marktkirche, the town's main church, which was however closed already. Built in the 15th century at the same time as the town hall, its spire was never completed, and was eventually completely rebuilt in the 1950s in the neogothic style. From there we continued onwards and reached the Kreuzkirche, bombed during the second world war it was rebuilt in its former gothic style. Its bell tower was a visible sight while walking in the direction of the small and pretty Ballhofplatz, surrounded by nice old buildings and cozy cafes. We then walked back towards the main church passing through a street full of wonderful half-timbered houses. A little further were the ruins of what used to be the Aegidienkirche, nearly completely destroyed during WWII. It was left as it was in order to stand as a memorial to the atrocities of the war. Then we walked a little more and reached the impressive New Town Hall, a castle-like structure built in 1913 during the reign of Emperor Wilhelm II. It is also surrounded by a nice park, the Maschpark, with a lake from which the reflection of the town hall can be seen by heading to the other side. It was getting late and the streets were starting to fill up with soccer fans who had come to see the match. We, therefore, decided to head towards the station stopping to have dinner at a place called Dean & David before finally reaching the bus station and heading to Hamburg.

The Am Markt with the old town hall

One of the streets of the old town

The bell tower of the Kreuzkirche

The pretty Ballhofplatz

A street in the old town with the Marktkirche in the background

The ruins of the Aegidienkirche

The new town hall

View of the new town hall