Lower Saxony

Regional Overview

Legacy of the Lion

Lower Saxony once formed the political center of medieval Saxony. It was from here that the Ottonian Emperors ruled and where Henry the Lion challenged the authority of Emperor Barbarossa. The legacy of Henry the Lion lived on in the successor states of Lower Saxony in Braunschweig and later the Kingdom of Hannover. It is a land of half-timbered houses and royal splendor.

Regional Identity

What to Lookout For

  • The heritage from centuries of independent rule, especially Renaissance palaces, sepulchral monuments, and churches.
  • The distinctive half-timbered cityscapes of the region are unique for both the style and high level of urbanization (that survives to the present).
  • The cultural landscape of the Lüneburger Heide is a beautiful moorland with ancient ties to the communities around it.

B

B-

C+

B+

Justin Bunch | CityscapeTravel My suggested travel destinations with the top three destinations highlighted.

What is Lower Saxony?

Though today it is mostly known for the giant factory city in Wolfsburg that produces cars for Volkswagen, it was the political locus of medieval Saxony. Though it did not survive WWII, the city of Braunschweig was the seat of power for the Welf dynasty that challenged the Hohenstaufen for supremacy in the empire.

My version of Lower Saxony is based around the Successor States of the Welf family, namely the Duchy of Braunschweig-Lüneburg, but also includes the lands of Saxe-Launenburg and several other minor states. This contrasts the modern state of Lower-Saxony, largely based on the borders of the post-Napoleonic Kingdom of Hannover. I excluded most of the settlements on the upper Leine, i.e. up to Göttingen, because, except for Göttingen, they fit better into the historical narrative of Eastphalia.

Hiking in the Region

Hiking: The Mölln Meadows

Hiking: The Mölln Meadows

Mölln sits on the old Salt Road between Lüneburg and Lübeck and was the location of a Slavic settlement before it was conquered in the…

Hiking: The Ratzeburg Marshes

Hiking: The Ratzeburg Marshes

The town of Ratzeburg sits on an island that once formed the center of an ancient Slavic settlement. When the Saxon colonists crossed the Elbe…

Hiking: The Lüneburg Meadows

Hiking: The Lüneburg Meadows

The heath meadows of the Lower Saxon plains near Lüneburg are some of the most recognizable landscapes of Northern Germany. In the late summer and…

My Quantitative Travel Rankings

To understand where the categories come from, see this article here.

Social Score

6.4 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Hype: 7.5
  • Growth: 5.4
  • Wealth: 6.6
  • Recognition: 6.9
Ease of Travel

5.6 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Accommodation: 4.3
  • Transportation: 4.2
  • Ease of Planning: 3.9
  • Infrastructure: 5.5
  • Interactivity: 6.9
  • Airport: Yes
Historical Immersion

4.5 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Historical Context: 6.4
  • Monuments: 2.6
  • Quality*: 7.0
  • Landscape: 3.5
  • Vineyards: 3.3
Authenticity

6.7 / 10

The score is based on the following:

  • Undiscovered: 8.2
  • Cultural Immersion: 6.0
  • Tradition*: 5.0

References

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Saxony

A land of princes united by blood and faith

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