Once all of Saxony was one of the largest principalities of Germany. She received the name from the Saxon tribe living in the mouths of the rivers Weser and Elba. The famous Meissen porcelain and lace are produced on this land. At one time, the electors (riches) did not spare money, and turned Dresden (the capital of Saxony) into a delightful example of architectural greatness. Many magnificent paintings and other works of art are concentrated in fabulous castles and galleries.
The article provides information only about part of these rich territories of Germany - Lower Saxony. Here are the sights of the amazing land, famous for its fast rivers and majestic mountain ranges.
general information
This wonderful land is located in the north-eastern territory of the state. Looking at all this beauty, it is impossible to believe that much in this region was destroyed during the war. Lower Saxony has many museums, ancient castles and palaces restored and open to the public.
It produces gas, oil, brown coal, rock and potassium salt, as well as iron ore. The main industrial sectors are shipbuilding, automotive (Volkswagen), instrument making and fishing. In terms of area, Lower Saxony is in second place after Bavaria (47 thousand 618 sq. Km).
Geography
In the north, federal land borders the islands of the North Sea (East Frisian Islands) and Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg (Western Pomerania) it borders in the northeast, North Rhine-Westphalia in the southwest, the Netherlands in the west, and Thuringia in the southeast, with Hesse in the south and with Saxony-Anhalt in the east. The border with the Netherlands is approximately 190 km long.
The territory of Lower Saxony includes 3 natural zones: Harz (mountain range), mountains near the Weser River, North German Lowland and Luneburg Heath. The latter is Germany's oldest natural park.
State of Lower Saxony
More than 9% of the inhabitants of all of Germany live here, which is 8 million people (according to 2009 data). In terms of population, this region takes the fourth place among 16 German federal lands.
Under agriculture given 64% of the total area. Cereals, sugar beets, carrots, asparagus, cabbage and lettuce are grown here. Indigenous people are mainly Saxons and Friezes. The administrative center is Hanover.
On this federal land, which is one of the German scientific centers, K. F. Gauss invented the telegraph. The creator of the gramophone Emil Beliner and the inventor of the color television system Walter Bruch lived in these places. Gottingen also has a world-famous university with a rich library. For tourists, these places are attractive with numerous natural and architectural attractions.
Capital
Amazingly versatile Hanover. It is a very cozy green city. It houses a beautiful international exhibition center, as well as a center for sports and cultural events. Of great interest is the New Town Hall, which is based on 6026 oak piles.
There are many attractions worth seeing. This is Lake Maschsee (2.4 km long), the "blue eye" of Hanover, and Herrenhausen-Gerten (park), and the zoo, and the Wilhelm Bush Museum.
The rest of the article briefly describes several other major cities and their unique history.
Cities
Braunschweig is located 65 kilometers from Hanover. The Duke Heinrich Leo (period of life from 1129 to 1195), who fell in love with this city, founded his residence here. The charm of this area gives the alternation of old and new: traditional old buildings are adjacent to new modern buildings. Everywhere you can find traces of the former rulers of Germany, for example, the bronze Castle Lion, cast in 1166 at the behest of Heinrich (a symbol of his power), as well as St. Blasius Cathedral, where Gothic and romanticism are perfectly combined.
The third largest city in Lower Saxony (Germany) is Osnabruck. It is located in the southeastern part of the federal state. The historical center of the city is represented by ancient buildings: the old town hall with the so-called Peace Hall, medieval streets, as well as the market square, which is a wonderful monument of medieval city architecture. Museums also attract attention: cultural-historical, industrial culture, natural history.
Göttingen is located between Weser and Harz. It is the cultural and economic center of southern Lower Saxony. This city is known for being within the walls of the University. George Augustus learned more than 40 future winners of the famous Nobel Prize. The city houses the Center for Aviation and Cosmonautics. This old city shows tourists its historic streets and half-timbered houses, medieval churches and town halls. A wonderful symbol of the city is the Girl with a Geese fountain, located in front of the town hall. There is a very curious custom here - this new girl (her name is Liesel) should be kissed by every new doctor of science at the university.
sights
Numerous natural and artificial parks of Lower Saxony, amazingly beautiful natural landscapes, East Frisian islands off the coast of the North Sea - all this attracts many tourists and just lovers of sea holidays. Hanover annually hosts the world's largest fairs.
On these lands there are a huge number of ancient castles and town halls.
- Hunnefeld Castle. In the XII century, the original construction was erected. It is located near the castle of Ippenburg. In a more modern form, it was rebuilt in 1614, and at the same time a huge park was built around it. The castle is now privately owned, and therefore its visits are possible with some restrictions on the schedule.
- Buckeburg Palace is located in a small town of the same name. It is surrounded by a picturesque park. The palace was built in the fourteenth century and served as the residence of the princes Schaumburg-Lippe, who owned a small principality (340 sq. Meters) in Lower Saxony. The last prince of this kind abdicated the throne in 1918. The palace is inherited by the descendants of this glorious German family, and today it is partially open for tourist excursions.
- Evenburg Castle of the small town of Leer was built in the middle of the 17th century for a colonel who was the commander of a Dutch regiment. The castle is named after his wife - Eva. In the middle of the XIX century the castle was destroyed, after which it was rebuilt, but in a pseudo-Gothic style. However, it was again destroyed during the Second World War. After a long restoration, the building was returned to its original neo-Gothic image of the 19th century only in 2006. Now it houses a college where grammar teachers are studying, and the Academy of East Frisia. A magnificent park has been erected around Evenburg.
It is impossible to describe all the castles and palaces of Saxony, there are a lot of them. For example, this is Hamelshenburg Castle (building in 1618), Hardenberg Palace and Castle (1101), Etelsen Palace (1887), Ippenburg Castle (XIV century), Stadthagen Castle (1224 g) and others.
In conclusion, a little about nature
The federal land described in the article is the only region in the country that has its own sea coast and mountains. The famous shallow-watts (a unique habitat for different species of animals and plants), which are listed by UNESCO, are located on the German coast of the North Sea. Located in the south of the Harz (mountain range), it is actively used for sports and tourism purposes. Significant navigable rivers in Lower Saxony are the Elbe, Weser and Aller.
It should also be noted that in addition to the aforementioned water bodies, the Mittelland Canal was laid in the 19th century along the territory of the earth, which connected the two seas - the North and Baltic. Germany used it quite actively during the years of both world wars. The channel was the transfer of warships to the North Sea and vice versa.
In the Frisian Islands, tourism is well developed today.