Loads and loads in Lower Saxony
Only 1 other German state can match the sheer size of Lower Saxony. This sprawling cut-out of northern Germany packs in loads, from car-mad cities to grand castles. Its countryside is a medley of windblown beaches lapped by the North Sea, lonely East Frisian Islands and shadowy pine forests. Brimming with pint-sized towns like salt-washed Cuxhaven and student-led Gottingen, there are oodles of charming Lower Saxony vacation rentals for the urban traveler. History lovers will find UNESCO sites and pre-historic relics, culture buffs can taste meaty sausages and wander half-timbered Saxon towns, while Hanover beckons all sorts with galleries, festivals and more.
The landmarks of Lower Saxony
With such a rich history and heritage, there's certainly no shortage of unforgettable landmarks in Lower Saxony. The Gothic spires of mighty Marienburg Castle rarely fail to impress, while the half-timbered homes of Hildesheim are a glimpse of a long-gone age of German history. Wolfsburg has the petrolheads' favorite, Autostadt, a theme park dedicated to all things Volkswagen. The Palaon Research and Experience Center in Schoningen is sure to wow – there are 320,000-year-old weapons inside. Then there's the German Salt Museum of Luneburg, housed in a historic salt refinery that's been in operation for centuries.
Lower Saxony is a cultural hodgepodge
No matter whether you've bagged Lower Saxony vacation rentals in Hanover or gone for somewhere more remote, between the countryside and the North Sea coast, you can rest assured that a bout of culture and heritage is never too far away. Operas and classical music performances erupt in the cities, while walking tours of long-forgotten altstadt – old town – districts are plentiful. You can taste your way through Saxon cuisine – enjoy sausages? – and sip frothy beers with the students of Gottingen and Hanover. Then, there are excursions to grand castles and palaces, from majestic Marienburg to stoic Schloss Landestrost.
Picking Lower Saxony's prime time
Lower Saxony has the full 4 seasons. Summers start in June and last until August, but Lower Saxony vacation rentals on the beaches of the North Sea tend to start getting popular around May, in spring. Coming then, means getting daily highs in the 60s and 70s and the least chance of rain. Fall is a great time to explore the old towns. The students return to university in September, bringing energy to the beer halls and eateries. Winter, from December to March, means cold days, some snow, but also festive markets in places like Hanover and Gottingen.
Icy seas and heathery heaths in Lower Saxony
The natural beauty of Lower Saxony starts with the salty rollers of the North Sea. They crash into the coastline, washing wide beaches along places like Cuxhaven. The shores are protected by the beautiful Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park, which spreads over mudflats and estuaries to cover the East Frisian Islands and their stretches of sandy beachfront and dunes. Inland reveals reserves like the Harz National Park, where mountains dotted with spear-like pine trees rise to dusty summits. Elsewhere is the Luneburg Heath, blooming in heliotrope hues with the wild heather, come August.