The Red Thread, a four-kilometre (three-mile) denotative walking route, is the most obvious way for new arrivals to sightsee the city. More independent minded visitors might wish to begin their own explorations from the Haupbanhof, under the equestrian statue – the city’s favourite meeting place. From this busy plaza, a number of routes radiate out, although the most obvious is the Bahnhofstrasse, which leads up to another hub at Kröpcke, the central square at the heart of the city, linked to Opernplatz and Georgsplatz by Georgstrasse, the city’s main pedestrian thoroughfare.
To the west lies the Old Town, with interesting small shops, pubs and restaurants. The best examples of medieval housing and street layout can be found on Kramerstrasse and Burgstrasse. Buildings made of red bricks, a characteristic style of northern Germany, include the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), the Kreuzkirche (Church of the Holy Cross) and the Marktkirche (Market Church), both dating from the 14th century. South of the Old Town, the Rathaus (Town Hall) overlooks the Maschsee lake. The Baroque Herrenhäusen Gardens are a few kilometres to the west, while the Eilenriede – a unique forest within the city – is situated beyond the main station to the east. The huge Messegelände and the Expo 2000 site lie to the southeast of the city. |