Braunschweig

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The city, with its extensive pedestrian areas, has a lively, interesting and varied centre which invites visitors to explore. Five Islands of Tradition and other sights worth seeing serve as a charming and picturesque backdrop connected by streets, lanes and arcades with numerous specialty stores, boutiques and department stores.

The surrounding areas are just as varied as the city, with their cultural, historical and economic richness: a fertile symbiosis, that is unparalleled in Germany. Brunswick, with a population in excess of 240,000, is the second largest city in Lower Saxony and a cultural and economic centre in the region.

Mysterious legends are all that remain of the beginnings of the City of Brunswick. Brunswick probably developed from a supply and resting place (Wik), which was set up by travelling merchants over 1000 years ago. This place was located at the intersection of important trade routes. From this point onward, the Oker was navigable by way of the Aller and the Weser to Bremen and then to the sea.

The favourable location of the market settlement caused Henry the Lion to choose Brunswick as his place of residence during the middle of the 12th century. This initiated Brunswick's development into a large medieval city. The cathedral (Dom), castle (Burg) and the statue of the lion - landmarks of the city - provide modern proof of the economic and cultural importance of the Duke's place of residence.

Brunswick`s cultural scene is varied and exciting. There is something for everyone among the events, the State Theatre (Staatstheater) with its over 300 years of history, the College of Fine Arts (Hochschule fur Bildende Kuenste) originating from young artists, cultural treasures in numerous museums. The past and the present meet here. A visit to Brunswick is always time well spent!