Braunschweig Travel Guide

Dating back as far as the 9th century you could already find the castle of the Brunones on the Burgplatz. In the 12th century Henry the Lion built the original Dankwarderode Castle (destroyed and rebuilt, now housing part of the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum), the collegiate church St. Blasii, now the cathedral, and the Lion Statue. The neo-classical Vieweghaus as well as the many beautiful half-timbered buildings make the Burgplatz a very important historical architectural ensemble. The square still shows the original medieval ground plan.

The cathedral was erected by Henry the Lion during the years 1173-1195 after his return from the Holy Land. The vaulted basilica with three naves was constructed on the site of an older church. The cathedral was the first fully vaulted structure in Lower Saxony. Henry the Lion chose the church as his place of burial. He was buried there in 1195 next to his wife Mathilde. The basilica which was first constructed with three naves has been renovated, extended and reconstructed many times over the years. The Lady altar (Marienaltar) (1188), the seven-armed bronze candelabra (from around 1170/80), a carved wooden crucifix by Master Imervard (second half of the 12th century) and the tomb of Henry the Lion and Mathilde are among the most important pieces on display in the church.

The Braunschweiger Ducal Palace was badly damaged during World War II and completely taken down in the year 1960. In 2007, 47 years after its demolition, the palace was rebuilt using more than 600 of the original parts. The Residential Palace of the Guelphs was reconstructed in its original size and in its historical location using old plans and historical photographs. The adjoining shopping centre Schlossarkaden contains over 150 shops and restaurants.

The rooms inside the palace are being used by the library, the city’s archive, the cultural institute and the cultural administration department. The Rote Saal (Red Hall) in the northern wing is the event center of the cultural institute. The rooms will also house a museum that will illustrate the history of the palace. With the help of documents, photographs, paintings, salvaged and preserved pieces of furniture and contemporary fixtures, the history of the Ducal Palace will be portrayed. Some of the rooms will be modelled on the former rooms and furnished just like the originals. Hence, they will give visitors an impression of the old grandeur that was lost during the war.

In 2007, the city of Braunschweig presented the reconstructed Palace to the public with a huge celebration. The Braunschweig riflemen from 1776 regularly patrol in front of the palace as the palace guard. The portico of the Ducal Palace houses a group of chariots led by Brunonia, the town’s goddess, as the charioteer. This is the biggest quadriga (type of chariot) in Europe and a reconstruction of the original monument.

Founded in 1754, the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum is one of the oldest museums in Europe. It houses a collection of masters of Western art, including Cranach, Holbein, Van Dyck, Vermeer, Rubens, and Rembrandt. The museum is based on the art collection of Anthony Ulrich, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1633-1714), after whom it is named. The Copperplate Cabinet, with its over 100,000 pieces of print graphics and 10,000 drawings, is of great importance. There are also rotating exhibitions of art and craftwork from all over the world. The present museum building was opened in 1887. Its architect, Oskar Sommer, planned the building in Italian Renaissance style.

Please note: the main building is under renovation until 2012. However there are many items to be seen at the museum annex, located in Dankwarderode Castle. The castle museum is open Wednesdays 1pm - 8pm and Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday from 10am - 5pm. Admission is 4 € Adults, and 2 € Concessions.

This square was mentioned for the first time in a document from 1342 in which it was referred to as uppe deme kolemarkede. The fountain, which has adorned the square since 1391, was renovated according to old plans in 1869. Originally, the Church of St. Ulrich (Ulrichskirche) adorned the Coal Market. This church was probably intended to illustrate the riches and importance of the up-and-coming community to merchants and envoys from other places. After the beginning of the Reformation, the church was demolished due to alleged dilapidation in 1544 on the orders of the council.

The Coal Market is presently a central location for business in the city. It is located in the midst of a busy pedestrian zone and is the scene of a range of events. The characteristic feature of this market is the diversity of architectural styles of the surrounding buildings which reflect its eventful history. Every Friday light installations illuminate buildings with great effect.

The house at Ziegenmarkt 2 at the edge of the Coal Market was built in 1758 by Court Master Builder Georg-Christof Sturm for the widow of Mayor Anton Julius Cammann. A reference is made to Till Eulenspiegel on one of the supporting beams. There are chimes in the attic floor of the house at Kohlmarkt 10.