☰Herrenhausen Gardens

The Grosser Garten at Herrenhausen is one of the most important baroque gardens in Europe — and the single best reason to visit Hannover. Laid out in 1666 and brought to its present form under Electress Sophie in the late 17th century, it is a perfectly preserved formal garden of parterres, fountains, hedge mazes and a great cascade, with the world's tallest baroque garden fountain shooting water 80 metres into the air. The reconstructed Herrenhausen Palace at the head of the garden houses a museum on the Welf dynasty (Hannover's electors who became kings of Britain). Combine a visit with the neighbouring Berggarten — a botanic garden with glasshouses for orchids and tropical plants — and the Georgengarten, an English-style landscape park used by joggers and picnickers.