Hannover's true green lung is the Eilenriede, a 650-hectare city forest that stretches from the inner ring almost into the centre — making it one of the largest urban forests in Europe. The citizens' right to use it dates back to 1371, when the dukes Wenzeslaus and Albrecht of Sachsen granted the privilege. The name comes from the alder trees (Erlen) that once grew on its marshy soil; today oak and beech dominate.
You can walk, run, cycle, ride a horse or just picnic. There are fitness trails, playgrounds, forest cafes, a bird sanctuary in the north, and the city zoo borders the forest directly. The leaflet "Kunst auf Schritt und Tritt" (Art at Every Turn) from the tourist office maps out the sculptures hidden among the trees.