Braunschweig (the English name is Brunswick) is located north of the Harz Mountains and east of Hanover on the Oker River in the federal–state of Lower Saxony.

Burgplatz©flickr/m.prinke

The St. Blasii Cathedral and the Dankwarderode Castle remind us even today of how closely the history of Braunschweig was linked to the Guelph Henry the Lion and his son Otto IV who was the only Guelph emperor. Henry the Lion turned  Braunschweig into his residence in the middle of the 12th century. His lion has been standing on the Burgplatz (castle square) for many centuries in form of a bronze statue. It was cast in bronze in 1166. The original you can see in the museum of the Dankwarderode Castle. The lion statue on the Burgplatz is a copy that was made to protect the original from getting corroded by air pollution. The lion is not only the city’s landmark but also the heraldic sign.

The Guelph Palace built from 1833 to 1841 was destroyed during WW2 and was recently rebuilt with its impressive façade. On top of the palace you can see Europe’s biggest quadriga which can be reached via a visitor’s platform. From there you have a good view over the old parts of the city.

In the area around St. Magni Church you can find many picturesque and well preserved half-timbered buildings. This area also is very lively at night with its many pubs. Braunschweig is pretty famous for its good beer and food.
Another sight inBraunschweig is the Happy RIZZI House which is both a building and a sculpture.

Klosterkirche Riddagshausen©flickr/m.prinke

There are many cultural events taking place in Braunschweig every year like for example the Braunschweig Classix Festival, the medieval market, the culture night, the CityJazzNight, the festival ‘Kultur im Zelt’, the international film festival and the open-air opera of the Staatstheater Braunschweig.

The Oker River allows visitors and of course residents to circle almost the whole city centre by boat. Braunschweig also has many parks and the European bird reserve with numerous fish ponds in Riddagshausen. This area is perfect if you want to escape the city and enjoy the nature.

With its closeness to the Harz Mountains and the Lüneburger Heide (heather reserve) Braunschweig is a good starting point for day trips.
Here you can find interesting city tours for tourists in Braunschweig: http://www.braunschweig.de/english/touristservice/tours/city_tours.html