This historic German city is the site of St. Blasius's Cathedral, the largest Gothic church in Germany. Local breweries, parks, and the Royal Palace museum add charm.
Brunswick, a city of 250,000 people in Lower Saxony, is a major center of scientific research in Germany. You can visit the 12th-century Cathedral of St. Blasius, see the bronze Brunswick Lion from 1166, explore the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum's collection of Old Masters paintings, walk through the medieval Magni district's timber-framed streets, or spend time in the 1840-established botanical garden.
Getting Around Brunswick
You can walk between main attractions in the car-free city center. If you drive, parking garages throughout the city display real-time space availability on your mobile phone. Regular ICE high-speed trains connect Brunswick to major German cities from the main station. The nearest airport is in Hannover, a 40-minute drive away.
Castle Square and Medieval Buildings
The Burgplatz (Castle Square) forms the historical center of Brunswick. The 12th-century Romanesque Cathedral of St. Blasius contains the tombs of Henry the Lion and his English wife Matilda. The bronze Lion Monument from 1166 sits in front of the reconstructed Dankwarderode Castle. The Neo-Gothic Town Hall, completed in 1900, completes the square's architectural ensemble.
Museums and Art Collections
The Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, which opened in 1754, is Germany's oldest public museum. You'll find works by Dürer, Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Rubens among its extensive collection of Old Masters paintings. The museum houses one of the largest art collections in Lower Saxony.
Local Food and Specialties
Try Brunswick's Mumme, the oldest known man-made nonperishable food product. Local restaurants in the Magni district serve traditional Brunswick sausages, seasonal asparagus, and gingerbread. You can buy fresh produce at the farmers' market on Kirchplatz square.
Parks and Green Spaces
The Technical University's Botanischer Garten maintains plant collections since 1840. Take a walk in the Bürgerpark, see the 1825 obelisk at Löwenwall, or relax in the Inselwallpark. These parks remain open year-round.
Annual Events
Watch Northern Germany's largest carnival parade, the Schoduvel, on the Sunday before Rosenmontag in February. The Christmas market fills Burgplatz with traditional stalls from late November through December. You can see the Löwen Classics horse riding tournament or watch Germany's oldest road bicycle race, Rund um den Elm.
