World City Guide

Further Distractions

Aegidienkirche (St Giles Church)
This Gothic church, with its Baroque tower, suffered heavy bomb damage in 1943 and has remained in its ruined state as a memorial to victims of war the world over. It is a moving and atmospheric spot, with Virginia creeper and ivy running riot over the walls. Under the tower lies a ‘peace’ bell, donated to Hanover by the city of Hiroshima. The buttress of the choir supports the Seven-Man-Stone, commemorating the death of seven men at the hands of the Duke of Brunswick’s troops in 1490. Every week, the church bells chime out the tune of Wind of Change, by Hanoverian rock band The Scorpions, to reflect more recent political upheavals.

Aegidienkirchhof
Transport: U-Bahn Aegidientorplatz.
Opening hours: Daily 24 hours.
Admission: Free.

Kestner-Museum
Based on an 18th-century endowment by Herman Kestner, the Kestner Museum houses a collection of Egyptian, Roman, Cypriot, Etruscan, Italian, Greek and German arts and crafts exhibits covering six thousand years. The highlight of the Egyptian section is the head of Pharaoh Akhenaton, which is more than three thousand years old.

Trammplatz 3
Tel: (0511) 1684 2120. Fax: (0511) 1684 6530.
Transport: U-Bahn Markhalle.
Opening hours: Tues-Sun 1100-1800, Wed 1110-2100.
Admission: ¬3.

Regendwaldhaus (The Rain Forest House)
Located in the Herrenhäusen Gardens, the Rain Forest House contains an entire exotic natural world indoors – a perfect alternative to the royal gardens when it is raining and an interesting aside at other times. The futuristic building was designed by the English architect who created the Princess of Wales Conservatory in London’s Kew Gardens. Rock faces, waterfalls and an ascending spiral path help create the impression of a real rainforest, which can be overlooked from a ten metre high platform. Visitors are given boarding passes for their ‘flights’ to Brazil in an innovative attempt to control overcrowding. English audio guides are available.

Herrenhäuser Strasse 4
Tel: (0511) 126 0420. Fax: (0511) 1260 4222.
E-mail: info@regenwaldhaus.de
Website: www.regenwaldhaus.de
Transport: Light-rail 4 or 5 Herrenhäuser Gärten.
Opening Mon-Thurs and Sun 1000-1900, Fri-Sat 1000-2200.
Admission: ¬9.