Hanover

History

The Middle Ages

Hanover is mentioned for the first time in a document gone back to 1150. The city is not whereas a village of fishermen and frontier runners nested on a terrace overhanging the Leine (one can translate his original name, Honovere , by " high rive"). In 1241, the duke Otto of Hanover promises that the city will not be any more one stronghold. Two acts confirm this privilege, at the origin of the appearance of the oldest form of the communal right of the town of Hanover. There is at the time an important river passage because two old main roads cross at this place. The Village which is Hanover transforms towards the end of the Moyen-âge into a small town of fair and trade which obtains soon its communal rights and is sold at the princely house of the Welfs, which make of Hanover their final residence at the 17th century.

The Ville knows a great prosperity quickly and becomes Hanseatic Cité in 1368.

At the 14th century the principal churches of Hanover are built. At the same time, the city is strengthened by a solid wall enclosing. Some remainders of this wall are still visible today in the tower of the Béguinage and with the historical museum.

Modern and contemporary time

As from the 17th century, Hanover plays a considerable international political role: in 1714, the son of Ernst-August of Hanover goes up on the throne of Great Britain under the name of Georges {{Romanian|I|1}} {{er}}; this personal union between the British Crown and the principality of Hanover gets for this one a considerable prestige.

During the Seven Year old war, in 1757, the battle of Hastenbeck takes place, during which l´armée French overcomes l´armée of Hanover. This defeat leads to l occcupation of Hanover.

In 1803, at the time of the Napoleonean wars, the city is occupied by nearly 30.000 French soldiers.

Hanover is an independent kingdom, sits of kings de Hanovre until fastening with the Prussia in 1866. After fastening, the inhabitants of Hanover opposed the Prussian mode. At this same time, Hanover starts to develop in a considerable way. At that time, a new center town is even built between the station and the old city; a powerful industrial expansion during the years of foundation of the German empire, in 1871, follows.

The Second world war finishes, for Hanover, on April 10th, 1945, when troops states-uniennes enter the city, without carrying out of combat. The consequences of the war on the city are important. The allied bombardments leave the downtown area in a state of total devastation. In 1945, almost two thirds of the buildings are in ruins or were destroyed by the bombardments. There is then many Sans-abris. The clearing of the ruins is followed by the rebuilding which progresses quickly.

Today

Today, Hanover is presented in the form of a very modern city, with a greenery very present on its surface. The city counts important cultural installations, good trade and remarkable interregional events like the masses or the Schützenfest , festival annual of the clubs of shooting with l´arc of the area even more.

Tourism

It is necessary for all to evoke the " wire rouge" ( DER rote Faden ) of 4,2km length, painted on many pavements of Hanover. It connects 36 principal tourist curiosities of the downtown area.

With the downtown area, the new town hall (built in 1913) attracts the tourists with his parabolic elevator in the cupola the top of which a sight on the whole city is offered. In the hall, four Maquette S nowadays show the history of Hanover of the borough strengthened with the Middle Ages to the big city, while passing by the destruction undergone at the end of the Second world war.

The rebuilt old city invites to stroll in the lanes with their coffees and shops in the half-timbered houses typical. The Marktkirche (literally l´église of the market) constitutes the center of the old city, opposite the old town hall dating from the Middle Ages, where the civil statue is today. On bank of Leine, near to the old town hall, the district council ( Landtag ) in a building of the neo-classic style is located.

On banks of Leine has place, every Saturday morning, a Flea market traditional. One also finds the three there famous Nana S of Niki de Saint-Phalle, artist French, who caused a scandal at the time of their erection in 1974 and who thus formed the beginning of a national discussion on art in the public places.

Large the Pedestrian precinct which extends from the old city at the central station and all along Georgstraße invites to shopping in this modern district of the city.

Beyond the old city the semi-artificial lake Maschsee is (dug of 1935 to 1936 by unemployed belonging to the Reichsarbeitsdienst ), green zone right in the middle of the big city, which invites to walks, foot or in boat. Many coffees and hirings of boats appeared along banks.

The professional football club Hannover 96 represents the city in the first German league (Bundesliga). Its stage, old the Niedersachsenstadion entirely modernized and renamed AWD-Arena in 2004, accommodated matches at the time of the World cup FIFA of Football in 2006. One foresees the stage since banks of Maschsee.

The markets of exposure, located at the south of the city, accommodate each year the CeBIT, the most important fair of information and telecommunication technologies of the world. In addition to CeBIT, many other fairs take place each year on this ground, such as the industrial fair " Hannover Messe".

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