The city of Henry the Lion combines tradition and modernity.
Alongside the former mediaeval marketplace and Romanesque
buildings, you will nowadays also find the glass-roofed
pedestrianised passages of the shopping area. For city
visitors, Braunschweig represents an excellent base for
tours in an interesting cultural region.
Henry the Lion chose Braunschweig as his royal seat. In 1671
Braunschweig was made the capital and royal seat of the
state of Braunschweig. Braunschweig’s traditional role as a
city of trade is anchored in its membership of the Hanseatic
League from the 13th to the 17th century. The East-West
trading route still forms the backbone of the shopping area.
Braunschweig grew up from five separate smaller towns during
the middle ages. This structure can still be recognized
today from the many squares, lined by churches and the
former local Town Hall. The Burgplatz, with St. Blasii
cathedral, Dankwarderode castle and the lion statue, is the
most important square in the city. The rich history and the
numerous art and cultural treasures, such as the Herzog
Anton Ulrich museum, one of the oldest museums in Europe,
mark the city’s cultural image. |