Celle Things to Do

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Happily not damaged during WW11 the old town was our reason to visit Celle. A happy couple of hours wandering the narrow streets, all very enjoyable. Plenty of opportunities for lunch and dinner too.
A good place to visit.

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Looks like one of the showpiece German castles, as ever we chose a bad time to visit. Renovations both to the castle and the grounds made our time here limited to a walk around the outside.
Looks good and would be well worth a visit when it's open!

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If you can, try to climb the Stadtkirche's 74m/220ft tower for an astonishing view of the schloss, squares and red roofs of this half-timbered town.

Most of the way you'll climb up a set of 235 metal spiral steps, ascending through a series of chambers, until emerging at last on a high viewing platform. Not something to attempt after a couple of beer steins.

Each morning and evening at half 6 a trumpeter climbs up the tower to deliver a ceremonial fanfare. I imagine getting the job of 'Turmblaeser' is a bit tricky, given the requirements of being physically fit, unafraid of heights and musically talented.

Entry in 2006 cost 1 euro for adults, 50 cents for children with a family combo ticket available. It's only open during the tourist season, April - October, between 10am-noon and 2-5pm.

This is one of the most beautiful old half-timbered houses I saw. If I remember well it is in the Maurerstr. Funny fact is the name of the store inside the house: "Wundervoll" (wonderful)...there cannot be a better name.

On the webside of Celle (www.celle.de) you find as well a pic of this building just as one of the best examples for the half-timbered houses.

the construction of this most important building in Celle started in the 13th century. In the 14th century it has been altered to a royal palace.
During the reformation times (since 1530) the building has been changed to a renaissance castle by "Duke Ernst the Confessor".
During the reign of Duke Georg Wilhelm (1665-1705) and his wife Eléonore d´ Olbreuse extensive rebuilding and alteration took place. These have given the castle its present baroque appearance.

The Bomann Museum of Celle is one of the most important museums in North Germany and with an exhibition area of approx. 5,500 m² it is the third biggest museum in Lower Saxony.

Main topics are the folklore of Lower Saxony area, the regional history and the history of Celle. Furthermore there are special exhibitions of modern art as well as exhibitions regarding historico-cultural topics.

(www.celle.de)

While the one side of the street Stechbahn is lined by half-timbered houses, towers the town church on the other side.

Every day in the morning and in the evening as well, the wind player of the 700 years old church climbs the tower with a height of 74.5 metres and plays hymns on the trumpet like in the good old days.

The construction phase of the Gothic church which originally had one nave and two aisles dates back to the time of the foundation of the town.

The renaissance tombs of the dukes of Celle (1541-1648) in the choir of the church are of great importance.

(www.celle.de)

Duke Ernst the Confessor enlarged a former small royal residence logde to a Renaissance Castle in 1530. Duke Georg Wilhelm (1665-1705) and his wife Eleonore d'Olbreuse have given the castle its present Baroque style. Over the years the castle has become enlarged and remodeled.

Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to visit the interior of the castle. I was told that the exhibition inside is dedicated to the history of the kingdom of Hannover.