Lower Saxony

Lower Saxony (German: Niedersachsen) is a federal state in northwestern Germany. It is the second largest state by area (47,618 km²) after Bavaria and the fourth largest by population, with approximately 8.2 million inhabitants. It was created after World War II by the British military government; most of its territory had previously been the Kingdom, and later Province, of Hanover. There are notable differences between the various parts of the state: it took decades for anything akin to a pan-Low Saxon identity to emerge, and even that is often second to attachments to various older and smaller territorial entities. == Regions == == Cities == 1 Hanover — the state capital, serving as a major international trade fair hub and home to the expansive Herrenhausen Gardens 2 Brunswick — the historic "Lion City," renowned for its medieval heritage, the Burg Dankwarderode, and its status as a prominent scientific research centre 3 Celle – the southern gateway to the Lüneburg Heath, featuring one of the largest ensembles of half-timbered houses in Europe 4 Cuxhaven — a classic seaside resort at the mouth of the Elbe, famous for its mudflat hiking, the "Alte Liebe" pier, and the Kugelbake landmark 5 Göttingen — an ancient university town with a vibrant intellectual history, home to numerous Nobel Prize winners and the iconic "Gänseliesel" fountain 6 Hildesheim — home to stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites, showcasing some of the most impressive Romanesque architecture in Germany 7 Lüneburg — a historic salt-producing town in the north, boasting a perfectly preserved medieval centre that serves as a hub for the Lüneburg Heath 8 Oldenburg — a cultural hub of the northwest, celebrated for its elegant castle, extensive pedestrian zone, and vibrant local arts scene 9 Wolfsburg — a city that is reinventing itself in the wake of the automotive transition; it features striking architecture like Zaha Hadid’s futuristic Phaeno Science Center and the iconic Aalto-Theater == Other destinations == 1 East Frisian Islands - among Germany's most popular summer holiday spots, many of these islands are car free and offer spectacular untouched wadden sea landscapes 2 Elm Lappwald == Understand == While Lower Saxony is home to eight million people, its population is concentrated around a few major cities; Bremen and Hamburg (which are city-states not legally part of Lower Saxony). The state contains most of Germany's coastline to the North Sea, as well as livestock grazing lands, and vast natural scenery, such as Lüneburg Heath and Elm Lappwald. Like most German states, it only came to be following World War II and for quite some time, people felt more kinship to former lands like the Electorate of Hanover, Frisia or various other petty states. Even today, contrasts within Lower Saxony are evident. === Public holidays === Each state in Germany can set its own public holidays. In Lower Saxony, these include the standard national holidays as well as Reformation Day. Variable dates below are calculated for the current year: === Tourist information === Lower Saxony tourism website == Talk == The predominant spoken form of German taught and spoken in Lower Saxony is High German or Hochdeutsch. Although there are different accents in several regions and some grammatical variations are regionally widespread, the language closely follows written German and is thus easy to understand. It is often said and commonly believed in Germany that the dialect spoken in Hannover is the "best" dialect in terms of "correctness" as it is closest to the written form. In East Frisia, Low German (Plattdeutsch or Plattdüütsch) remains widespread, often spoken alongside Standard German (Hochdeutsch). While Low German was once the dominant tongue across nearly all of Lower Saxony, it is now primarily found in rural areas and among the elderly. It is important to distinguish this East Frisian Low German from the actual Frisian language family. The only remnant of the latter in the state is Saterland Frisian, a minority language spoken by only a few thousand people in the Saterland region. Linguistically, both Frisian and Low German are more closely related to English than to High German. However, centuries of coexistence with High German have shifted their vocabulary and grammar, making them sound much more like Standard German to the modern ear. While scholars often cite Frisian as the closest living relative to English, it remains a distinct language from Low German. While English is a compulsory subject in schools, many adults, particularly in more remote areas, may only have a basic knowledge or lack the confidence to speak it fluently. In major tourist areas and on the regional trains, signage is often bilingual. On long-distance trains, all announcements are made in both German and English. The state’s demographics show a marked contrast between town and country. While the rural areas of Lower Saxony remain more demographically traditional and predominantly of local German descent, urban centers like Hanover, Brunswick, and those near Bremen are very international. These cities host large Turkish, Ukrainian, Middle Eastern, and Eastern European communities. Consequently, it is common to hear a variety of languages, such as Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Polish, or Ukrainian, alongside German in these diverse neighborhoods. == Get in == === By plane === The most important airports for the region are: Hanover (HAJ IATA) – The state's main international gateway. Hamburg (HAM IATA) – Located in the neighboring state of Hamburg; easily reached by train, though the Niedersachsen-Ticket is only valid for the journey to the city, not for the subsequent S-Bahn or bus transfer to the airport itself. Bremen (BRE IATA) – Located in the city-state of Bremen; the Niedersachsen-Ticket is fully valid for the train journey and for all trams and buses within the Bremen (VBN) transit network. Münster/Osnabrück (FMO IATA) – Located in neighboring North Rhine-Westphalia. The Niedersachsen-Ticket is an excellent value for travelers. It is valid for all regional trains throughout Lower Saxony and also covers the entire public transport networks in Bremen and Hamburg. There are also some small airports with mostly domestic and seasonal services on most of the inhabited Est-Frisian islands. Unless one of the islands is your final destination or you arrive in your own plane, you are unlikely to use any of those. === By rail === The largest railway hub in the state is Hanover Central (Hannover Hauptbahnhof), one of Germany's most important interchanges. It offers hourly high-speed connections to Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Munich, as well as frequent services to Berlin and the Ruhr area. The city is a major stop on the high-speed line from Hanover to Würzburg and the line to Berlin; travel times to Hamburg are also very competitive, often taking under 80 minutes. Other large regional hubs are Brunswick (regional services to East Germany and the Harz) and Göttingen (regional services to the South Harz). The two largest transport associations are GVH (Großraumverkehr Hannover) in Hanover and VRB (Verbundtarif Region Braunschweig) in Brunswick. Tickets for journeys within those transport association zones must be purchased before travelling as they are not available on the trains. === Bus === Along with state run regional buses covering distances of usually 50 km and less, there are private domestic and international long distance lines that serve the region and connect it to the rest of Central Europe === By road === Niedersachsen is well-connected by a dense network of motorways. The A2 (east-west) and the A7 (north-south) are the primary arteries, crossing near Hanover. The A1 provides a vital link to the north. While these routes are efficient for long-distance travel, they are heavily trafficked; expect congestion during peak hours or holiday seasons. Important federal roads (Bundesstraßen) such as the B1, B3, B4, and B6 complement the network, often serving as scenic alternatives to the motorways. When driving through rural areas or the Harz mountains, be mindful of speed limits and watch for wildlife, particularly at dawn and dusk. === By boat === While the Port of Hamburg serves as the major international gateway to the region, it is easily accessible from Lower Saxony by rail. The Niedersachsen-Ticket is valid for regional train travel to Hamburg, making it a convenient option for cross-border day trips. For coastal travelers, ferries are the standard way to reach the East Frisian Islands. A popular international connection is the ferry service from Eemshaven in the Netherlands, located just across the border from Emden, which provides a direct link to the island of Borkum. Additionally, there are seasonal recreational cruises along the Mittellandkanal for those looking for a slower, scenic way to explore the interior. == Get around == There is a special ticket called the "Niedersachsen Ticket" which offers unlimited travel by regional trains inside Lower Saxony area, up to Bremen and Hamburg in one day. This ticket is not valid in high speed trains (D, EC, IC, ICE) unless otherwise noted so make sure you board the right trains (RE, RB, S-Bahn, Metronom) when using this ticket. It is valid from 09:00 to 03:00 the following day during weekdays and the whole day on weekends. The price of the ticket depends on the size of your party with €23 for a single person and €4 on top of that for every additional person up to five. If you are more than five people, other discounts might apply, or you can simply buy more than one group ticket. These tickets are also valid inside public transport network in some of the cities (Hanover, Hamburg, Bremen, Brunswick). == See == The Wadden Sea is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of Germany's few pieces of relatively untouched nature, although it has been used and changed by human activity for most of the last 2000 years. Most tourists to this area are drawn by the unique landscape, the breezy climate (with summer highs rarely exceeding 30°C) and the wide white sandy beaches. The old towns of Brunswick and Lüneburg The zoo in Hannover Belsen concentration camp memorial Lüneburg Heath Medieval old town of Hildesheim with early-Romanesque St Michael's Church (one of the most important churches of early Christianity in Germany) and Romanesque Cathedral Rammelsberg visitor mine (that was continually operative for 1000 years), old town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Regale Fagus Factory in Alfeld (Leine), designed by Walter Gropius in 1911, one of the earliest works of modern architecture == Do == Bruchhausen-Vilsen–Asendorf Museum Railway in Hoya near Bremen offers visitors scenic rides on trains pulled by vintage steam & diesel locomotives operating over a 7.8 km (4.8 mi) metric-gauge line. === Outdoor life === Lower Saxony has many opportunities for outdoor life, especially bathing in the North Sea. Go Wattwandern (i.e. hiking through the mudflats during low tide, that are covered by water during high tide) only do this with a licensed guide as the flood arrives almost unnoticed and the channels that bring the water back in can rise to several meters and cut off your way back to safety Take a tour on a boat a watch aquatic mammals, or the fishing of Krabben (a type of crayfish typical for the area) == Eat == Lower Saxony has a number of traditions when it comes to cuisine that are often widespread, but with local regional variations. Many of the recipes are based on local food and tend to be basic, hearty and flavoursome, rather than haute cuisine. An exception, perhaps, is Welf Pudding, a layered pudding made from milk, eggs, wine and vanilla, that was created by one of the chefs to the royal household in Hanover. Unsurprisingly fish dishes using, for example plaice, flounder and mackerel, feature strongly in the coastal region. Herring is served in various guises, popular ones being Matjeshering (soused), Brathering (fried) or Rollmops (pickled). Inland, trout (Forelle) and eels (Aale) are popular. As elsewhere in Germany, pork is the most consumed type of red meat, with beef a poor second and lamb rarely seen. There are the inevitable regional types of pre-cooked sausage (Kochwurst) which are very popular in the Lüneburg Heath, the Bremen area and Schaumburg Land; local varieties include Bregenwurst, Kohlwurst, and Pinkelwurst. Other meat dishes from that area are Knipp a kind of smoked sausage, venison, wild boar and hare. Another heath speciality are Heidschnucken dishes created using mutton from the local moorland sheep. Two specialities from the Hanover region are Schlachteplatte, a dish of assorted meat, and the Calenberger Pfannenschlag (also known as Rinderwurst, a beef sausage). The internationally known Braunschweiger sausage presumably originates from Brunswick. Around Gifhorn and Wolfsburg a form of black pudding called Pottwurst, served with Sauerkraut (pickled cabbage), is popular in the autumn. The most common accompaniment is the humble potato, boiled potatoes (Salzkartoffeln, that is potatoes boild in salted water without their skin) being by far the most common. Another popular vegetable, very typical of the area, is Grünkohl (kale), sometimes known as Braunkohl especially in Bremen and Brunswick Land. Asparagus (Spargel) is eaten as a great delicacy in Lower Saxony. It is grown mainly around the towns of Burgdorf, Nienburg, Brunswick and in the Oldenburg Münsterland as well as the southern part of the Lüneburg Heath and on the Stade Geest. Asparagus season begins around April and lasts until June 24th. As the best Spargel is grown locally and eaten only during the season, asparagus devotion can seem quasi-religious at times. Soup is a common form of starter. Particularly popular is Hochzeitssuppe ("wedding soup"), a meat broth. On the North Sea coast a plant called arrowgrass, known locally as Stranddreizack or Röhrkohl, grows in salt meadows immediately by the coast and is prepared, like Grünkohl, as a thick stew. Other country dishes in the coastal region are Steckrübeneintopf and Birnen, Bohnen und Speck, both types of stew. The Germans are great cake eaters, popular regional varieties being butter cakes (Butterkuchen) and, around the Lüneburg Heath, Buchweizentorte (buckwheat cake) which is like a gateau and very tasty. == Drink == Lower Saxony is home to many breweries, for example in Jever, Einbeck, Celle, Lüneburg, Brunswick, Allersheim (part of Holzminden), Hanover, Wittingen, Peine and Göttingen. Two of the oldest beers, brewed since the Middle Ages, are Braunschweiger Mumme and Goslarer Gose. In general the Lower Saxons prefer coffee to tea, except in the regions of East Frisia and Friesland where tea is popular and often drunk with Kluntjes (rock candy) and cream. A specialty found mainly in East Frisia (i.e. the North of Niedersachsen) are "Pharisäer" (Coffee with rum and a whipped cream topping) that also exist in the caffeine free version (replacing cacao for coffee) of "tote Tanten" (literally dead aunts). == Stay safe == While this area is very safe in terms of crime and even the big city issues of Hanover and Braunschweig are not all that bad, there are some natural hazards: Swimming in the North Sea is usually only allowed during certain hours of the day. As the tides can be very strong, it is best to follow the advice and don't bathe when it isn't allowed. Mudflat hiking with a guide is a safe and fun activity. Without one it can be deadly, due to people being lost and trapped by the rising tide. Fog is more common than you might think. == Go next == Bremen is an enclave within Lower Saxony Hamburg, seaport metropolis Saxony-Anhalt with Magdeburg and several World Heritage sites North Hesse with Kassel, romantic small towns and fairytale landscapes The Netherlands are right across the border Schleswig-Holstein (in practice you will often travel via Hamburg to get there)