This post features trips to Hanover,Celle, Bremen, Hamelin, Wolfenbüttel and Braunschweig and Berlin, Potsdam, Brandenburg – both trips in September 2015
Hanover
Early Sunday morning at Heathrow – the little A319 on stand ready to zoom off to Hanover. Hanover will be my base while I go exploring…The RathausBuilt between 1901 and 1913The Rathaus from the backHanover (Hannover in German) suffered badly during the war – the Altstadt has been largely restoredA photo of Hanover after the warThe city is strangely quiet – even for a SundayHanover is historically connected with England having sent us King George 1st…Martin LutherA very good museumAn intriguing model of the Altstadt in the museumThe Anzeiger-Hochhaus (Gazette-Building) in Hanover was designed by Fritz Hoeger, it’s 51m high and was built from 1927 to 1928 near the Stone Gate Square. With its 12m tall, green roof dome, it is a landmark of the city and was one of the first skyscrapers in Germany. Anzeiger-Hochhaus was one of the few high-rise buildings in the center of Hanover that survived the bombing of the city during the Second World War.Something went horribly wrong with architecture after World War 2…This looks like the prize winner in a children’s colouring competition…DreadfulNo matter how clever glass tries to be – you can always see through itThe very posh Landesmuseum – natural world exhibition on the ground floor; 1st floor closed and art gallery on the 2nd floor…Park between the Rathaus and the LandesmuseumHanover’s smart looking HauptbahnhofErnest August Koenig von HannoverWell: it clearly still exists but I can’t find anywhere selling it. Herrenhauser is brewed in Hanover and still privately owned. Gilde – the beer you see everywhere – is unfortunately owned by AB-InBev, so we won’t be having any of that…The Opera HouseAnd lo it did rain – verily the heavens opened up unto us and made us very wet indeed A Fiat 850A memorial to the Battle of WaterlooAt last – somewhere that has Herrenhauser – oh look – it also has DAB…The dome of the Anzeiger Hochaus and a crane from the noisy building site
Celle
Celle Schloss – about 44km from HanoverA magnificent lime tree in the grounds of Celle SchlossAccording to the Lonely Planet guide – Celle has over 400 mostly wooden buildingsThe buildings seem to date from around 1530 to 1730 – all heavily restoredThe RatskellerThe Ratskeller dates from 1387I had lunch in a (good soldier) Schwejk-themed restaurant (Kanzleistrasse, Celle) but it is pleasingly old fashioned, friendly and with good food. The Budvar was nice, too
Bremen
A visit to BremenWalking from the station to the city centre I passed this windmillThere isn’t much left of the Altstadt but what there is has been nicely restored…The RatskellerThe Deutsche Bank building is quite grand – market stalls all seem to be selling various kinds of wurst or local breadIn the heart of the Altstadt they are building this…A little garden adjacent to the DomThe Weser at low tideNot missing work at all…AB-InBev: the biggest brewer in the world and effectively run by Brazilian accountants (3G Capital)Goldfish…Roland – the protector of Bremen. This statue dates from 1404 and represents market rights and freedom. There are statues of Roland in towns & cities across Germany…
Hamelin (Hameln)
The Pied Piper of Hamelin (Hameln) outside the post office. The story of the Pied Piper dates from 1284 but no one knows who he was…The Pied Piper’s house – or so it is claimedThe Hamelin MuseumThe first sign of the rats synonymous with Hamelin (Hameln in German)More cute than scaryLittle rat symbols in the pavements – pity I took it the wrong way round Bridge over the River WeserAssorted cormorants, herons and gulls sitting on the weirThis restaurant used to be an old pumping station, which makes for an unusual featureAn old pump and turbine in the restaurant
They served Barre – from a private brewery in Lubbecke (near Osnabrück). There are restaurants selling Herforder (owned by Warsteiner); Krombacher (private); Kulmbacher (from Bavaria) and Hasseröder (owned by InBev) – nice to see a wide choice in the town
Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel -only 8 minutes by train from BraunschweigMore old style buildings than Celle – according to the Lonely Planet guideHerzog AugustWolters Pilsner – brewed in Braunschweig (Brunswick) – still privately owned
Roof people waiting impatiently for the completion of the renovation
So: there are 3 trains an hour from Wolfenbüttel to Braunschweig – these run at 24; 36 and 52. Where is the logic in that? Maybe VW have been tinkering with railway timetables, too
Braunschweig (Brunswick)
At Braunschweig (Brunswick) station. The tram has an interesting vinyl advertising a €50 bonus but the lady is holding €65 – not like Volkswagen to mislead. If only everything was as reliable as a Volkswagen, vorsprung durch technik, etc…The Schloss Museum – behind the façade is a shopping centreWhat a happy building: Happy Rizzi House and St Magni Church behind it…The new Rathaus in BrunswickCathedral of St Blasius (Dom St Blasii). It was built between 1173 to 1195. While called a cathedral, it is not actually a seat of a bishop. Caroline of Brunswick, consort of George IV, is buried here…This looks very nice…On closer inspection…The Theatre
Berlin
So: BA 984 to Berlin departure 13.15 – the inbound flight docked at 12.55 – you can see its tail poking out. The baggage system failed making check-in somewhat lengthier than normal. Still – it’s a lovely sunny day… This lady is watching over me in room 406 of the H10 hotel – not that I know who she is. The receptionists don’t know, either. I wonder if she sleeps…What happened to the sunshine in London? Singing in the rain…The Kaiser Wilhelm Church was virtually destroyed during the war – the tower is kept as a memorialA Buick EightStill lifeApparently Weihenstephan is the “original” beer – brewed since 725 in the Benedictine monastery there. A long way from home then – it’s a bit dull – maybe it doesn’t travel well. The brewery is owned by the state of Bavaria, which guarantees its independence…A Simson SchwalbeBuddha bar – I wonder if these religious artefacts have been exported legally…The past peeks out to say hello…A representation of the circle of life…Theater des WestensThere is one of these little chaps on the street sign on the opposite side of the road…Street SpriteThese 3 must have had a shock when they woke up to discover themselves adorning the Swissotel…Augustiner: brewed in Munich since 1328; still privately owned and still goodA mile-long platform with a 2-car train…Brandenburger TorUnter den Linden Strasse – complete with Trabants…PegasusA Ford 100 vanThe Humboldt UniversityAnother view of the Humboldt UniversityMuseumstrasseThe Alte Nationalgalerie – opened in 1876Berlin’s beautiful cathedral (Berliner Dom)The history of the Berlin Cathedral goes back to the 15th century when it was originally part of the Berlin City Palace. In the early nineteenth century, the old church was transformed into a neo-classical building. But Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany, insisted on anew monumental church in keeping with the imperial monarchy’s power and prestige. Architect Julius Carl Raschdorff’s opulent, grandiose structure was for him Berlin’s answer to Saint Peter’s in Rome and Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London. The old cathedral was demolished in 1893, and the foundation stone for the new church laid in 1894. The new church was consecrated in 1905. It was badly damaged during the war and full restoration was only completed in 1993…The Pergamonmuseum is home to three of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin’s most impressive collections: the Antikensammlung, the Vorderasiatisches Museum and the Museum for Islamic Art The massive architectural reconstructions of the colourful Ishtar Gate and Processional Way of Babylon, dating from the time of Nebuchadnezzar II (6th century BC). From Nineveh – around 2700 years oldBerlin Hauptbahnhof Berlin Hauptbahnhof – possibly the world’s most confusing station, on many levels…Back in Berlin and some wall-art off Uhlandstrasse – area fenced-off – you get a better view from the S7 going from the Zoo to Savignyplatz…The ReichstagIn the heart of Berlin – with the Tiergarten to the rightCharlottenburg PalaceDome of the New Synagogue in Berlin in Oranienburger StrasseKaiser Wilhelm Church illuminated at night
Potsdam
A trip to Potsdam – a UNESCO World Heritage SiteSt Nicholas’ ChurchPotsdam MuseumThe Brandenburg State Government building; restoration and rebuilding finished in 2013 – in 2005 it was just grass – amazing…The Brandenburg State Government building Spornstrasse: I can’t work out if this has been left to decay as some kind of statement – or whether it is awaiting restorationA gilded cageA picture of a picture…This is just a façade but at least it has been retainedA sanctuary for roof people…34a LindenstrasseCafe Kiesel Stein – excellent little restaurant on the edge of the touristy town-centreThe Sanssouci PalaceThe Orangery at the Sanssouci PalaceCharlottenhof Charlottenhof with Mercury rising…The gardens and the park are just lovelyGate to the WinzergartenThe Winzergarten undergoing restorationThe avenue from the entrance to the New Palace is 2km – a lovely walk through the glorious park even in the rainThe New Palace in the Sanssouci Park, PotsdamThe New PalaceAll part of the New Palace complexThe New Palace Roof People herded into a cageThey anxiously await their fateAfter some serious tourism a Potsdamer Rex Pils is most welcome. Disappointing to find out that it is yet another brewery owned by the ubiquitous Dr Oetker – pizza magnate and cake decorator extraordinaire…
Brandenburg
So: main lines not running from Berlin Zoological Gardens. Get S7 to Berlin Hauptbahnhof only to discover that trains to & from Brandenburg & Magdeburg terminate at Berlin Charlottenburg – so back on S7. Anyway – at least I can sit upstairs…Brandenburg is famous for its traditional red brick buildingsA gate tower in BrandenburgA memorial to fallen Russian soldiers – a reminder that this was once East GermanyRatskeller in the Altstadt – the figure is Roland…St GotthardtInside St GotthardtBrandenburg is split into several islands by the River HavelA visual museum of BrandenburgOld photos of BrandenburgIntrigued by the Opel – how did that get there, I wonder…
