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Lower Saxony, Germany

Make the most of your time in Lower Saxony, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links to plan your visit.

Lower Saxony is a land steeped in myth and legend. From the Pied Piper of Hamlin, to the notorious pirate Störtebaker and the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, Lower Saxony is one of Germany’s most fascinating regions.

Stretching from the North Sea coast to the hilly country of the Weserbergland, Lower Saxony takes its name from the Saxons, one of the Germanic tribes that were to later conquer England. It is one of the few regions of Germany where Low German is still spoken, although the number of speakers is in decline.

From the beautiful countryside between the Ems and Elbe rivers, the snow-capped peaks of the Harz Mountains and the maritime climate of the North Sea, Lower Saxony is a land of contrasts. Thankfully, Lower Saxony is one of Germany’s most unspoiled regions, comparatively untouched by development. Indeed, much of Lower Saxony is committed to nature conservation. More than 20% of Lower Saxony’s area has been designated as protected, creating gorgeous vistas of virgin rivers, mountains and forest.

The seven East Frisian islands of Borkum, Juist, Norderney, Baltrum, Langeoog, Spiekeroog and Wangerooge get more sunshine that anywhere else in Lower Saxony, with broad white beaches that attract visitors from far and wide. East Frisia, just across from the islands, is known as ‘The land beyond the dyke’. This seafaring region was the hiding place of the notorious pirate Störtebaker. Nearby is Osnabruck and the Teutoburg Forest, where Arminius annihilated three Roman legions in 9AD. 

Visitors familiar with European myth and legend simply must visit the River Weser and the Harz region. The region around the River Weser inspired the Brothers Grimm to write many of their most famous stories. Hamlin of Pied Piper fame is to be found here. The Harz Mountains, meanwhile, is rich in the legend of witches. Today the region is home to half-timbered towns and enchanting forests straight out of a Brothers Grimm fairytale.

But while much of Lower Saxony could be straight from the pages of history, the state is also home to several large and dynamic cities. Hannover is the state capital of Lower Saxony and a popular venue for international trade fairs, sporting activities and a range of prestigious events. Major attractions include the Town Hall, constructed on 6,026 beechwood posts, and the 2.4-kilometre-long Maschsee lake. Göttingen is the economic and cultural centre of southern Lower Saxony and home to the Georg August University, where more than 40 Nobel Prize winners have studied or taught.

So for everything from myth to music, legend to leisure, Lower Saxony is one of Germany’s most fascinating and diverse regions.

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