The Grosser Garten is the formal centrepiece of the Herrenhausen complex: a perfectly geometric 50-hectare parterre laid out in the late 17th century by the French gardener Martin Charbonnier for Electress Sophie of Hannover. The clipped hedges, the chequerboard parterres, the great fountains and the open-air theatre have been kept almost exactly as they were 300 years ago.
The illuminated baroque-garden nights in summer, with classical music and choreographed fountain displays, are the highlight of the cultural calendar. By day, allow at least two hours to walk the central axis and the labyrinth.