Album Lower Saxony, Niedersachsen, Basse-Saxe from Martin M. Miles

Osnabrück - Gumball Machine

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:47:17 +0000

As a child, I was fascinated by these machines. Children today are obviously interested in other things. This gumball machine seems to have been waiting for customers for quite some time.

Hannover - Aegidienkirche

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:20:15 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Hannover - Aegidienkirche

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 22:04:36 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Hannover - Rathsapotheke

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 21:41:32 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Hannover - Marktkirche

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 16:55:12 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

With more than 500.000 inhabitants Hannover is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony.

Hannover was founded in medieval times on the east bank of the River Leine. It was a small village of ferrymen and fishermen. It became a comparatively large town in the 13th century, receiving town privileges in 1241, owing to its position at natural crossroads It was connected to the Hanseatic city of Bremen by the Leine and was situated north-west of the Harz mountains so that east-west traffic passed through it.

Between 1714 and 1837 three kings of Great Britain were concurrently also Electoral Princes of Hanover.

As an important railway and road junction and production centre, Hannover was a major target for strategic bombing during WW II. More than 90% of the city centre was destroyed in a total of 88 bombing raids. So today Hannover lacks it´s medieval heart.

The Gothic Marktkirche (Marktkirche St. Georgii et Jacobi) replaced an older Romanesque church, which foundations were found during an excavation in 1952.

An appeal to the citizens for donations to build the church dates back to 1344, and work began on the foundations of the tower in 1347. Around 1360 the church was consecrated. In 1368, the construction of the church tower was interrupted due to times of emergency and plague and the resulting lack of money.
From 1852 to 1855, the interior of the church was restored. During the air raids on Hannover during WWII, the church was destroyed except for the outer walls and the columns. Reconstruction took place in 1946-1952.

The reredos of the high altar was originally a double-winged altarpiece. The altarpiece, created around 1480, was moved to the Aegidienkirche in 1663 during the installation of the Baroque altarpiece. From there, it was transferred to the Welfenmuseum during the renovation of the Aegidienkirche in 1856. It therefore remained undamaged during the WWII (except for the outer wings) and has been back in the Marktkirche since 1952.

With the wings open, 21 scenes depict the Passion of Jesus, based on graphic models by Martin Schongauer. At the lower edge are medallions of the heads of the prophets. The outer sides of the painted inner wings (the outer wings are destroyed except for remnants) depict scenes from the lives and martyrdoms of the church's two patron saints, James and George.

Hannover - Marktkirche (PiP)

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 14:14:16 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Hannover - Landesmuseum

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:37:10 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

With more than 500.000 inhabitants Hannover is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony.

Hannover was founded in medieval times on the east bank of the River Leine. It was a small village of ferrymen and fishermen. It became a comparatively large town in the 13th century, receiving town privileges in 1241, owing to its position at natural crossroads It was connected to the Hanseatic city of Bremen by the Leine and was situated north-west of the Harz mountains so that east-west traffic passed through it.

Between 1714 and 1837 three kings of Great Britain were concurrently also Electoral Princes of Hanover.

As an important railway and road junction and production centre, Hannover was a major target for strategic bombing during WW II. More than 90% of the city centre was destroyed in a total of 88 bombing raids. So today Hannover lacks it´s medieval heart.

Originally the Museum of "Kunst und Wissenschaft" (art and science) inaugurated in 1856 in the presence of George V of Hanover. After the annexation of Hanover by Prussia, the museum was integrated into the Provincial Museum, as it was called from 1869. The museum ran out of space for its art collections, prompting the construction of the current building in 1902. Extensive renovations and modernisations were carried out in the interior from 1995 to 2000, reopening on 13 May 2000 as part of Expo 2000.

Today the museum comprises the state gallery (Landesgalerie), featuring paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, and departments of archaeology, natural history and ethnology.

Baptismal font, Burgdorf, early 13th c

The surrounding frieze shows the creation of Adam and Eve, paradise and the expulsion from it

Hannover - Landesmuseum

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:26:35 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

With more than 500.000 inhabitants Hannover is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony.

Hannover was founded in medieval times on the east bank of the River Leine. It was a small village of ferrymen and fishermen. It became a comparatively large town in the 13th century, receiving town privileges in 1241, owing to its position at natural crossroads It was connected to the Hanseatic city of Bremen by the Leine and was situated north-west of the Harz mountains so that east-west traffic passed through it.

Between 1714 and 1837 three kings of Great Britain were concurrently also Electoral Princes of Hanover.

As an important railway and road junction and production centre, Hannover was a major target for strategic bombing during WW II. More than 90% of the city centre was destroyed in a total of 88 bombing raids. So today Hannover lacks it´s medieval heart.

Originally the Museum of "Kunst und Wissenschaft" (art and science) inaugurated in 1856 in the presence of George V of Hanover. After the annexation of Hanover by Prussia, the museum was integrated into the Provincial Museum, as it was called from 1869. The museum ran out of space for its art collections, prompting the construction of the current building in 1902. Extensive renovations and modernisations were carried out in the interior from 1995 to 2000, reopening on 13 May 2000 as part of Expo 2000.

Today the museum comprises the state gallery (Landesgalerie), featuring paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, and departments of archaeology, natural history and ethnology.
Wing of a former altarpiece, Westphalia, ca 1390

Depicting the childhood of Jesus

Annunciation - Nativity - Presentation of Jesus - Adoration of the Magi

Hannover - Landesmuseum

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 21:56:11 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Holtensen - Vending Machine

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:30:11 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

All major mail order companies receive returns from their customers, as the right of cancellation means that it is possible to return used goods to the retailer within a short period of time. Perhaps the goods do not fit or the customer simply does not like them.

These goods can then not be resold as new. They are either destroyed or given to companies that sell them as ‘almost new’. Sometimes they even fill surprise bags that people can get from such vending machines. It's a bit of a gamble then.

Holtensen - Vending Machines

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:57:44 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

These large vending machines, which are located on a thoroughfare in the village of Holtensen, offer all kinds of products from regional farmers. From eggs, to potatoes, veggies, herbs, cheeses to sausages.

Hannover - Waschsalon

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:24:59 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

A chain of coin laundries in all major German cities is run under the name "eco express". There are three in Hannover alone. They are open 16 hours per day.

Hannover - Sprengel Museum

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 21:48:37 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Göttingen

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 21:51:28 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The origins of Göttingen lay in a village called "Gutingi", first mentioned in a document by Otto I in 953. It is presumed that Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, founded the town northwest of this village, between 1150 and 1200. Its inhabitants obeyed welfish ownership and ruling rights, and the first Göttingen burghers are mentioned then, indicating that Göttingen was already organized as a true city. It was not, however, a Free Imperial City ("Reichsstadt"), but subject to the Welf dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The city was initially protected by ramparts, at the end of the 13th century by walls on top of the ramparts. Permission to erect the wall was granted in 1362 by Duke Ernst of Brunswick-Göttingen, and construction ultimately took 200 years.Around 1350, Göttingen joined the Hanseatic League. Göttingen only became a paying member in 1426, and in 1572 it left the Hanseatic League.

The Reformation initially seemed to bypass Göttingen. Even when the Peasants' War raged through Germany in 1524/25, things remained quiet in Göttingen. It was not until 1529, twelve years after Luther posted his theses, that the Reformation began in Göttingen.

Göttingen suffered greatly during the Thirty Years' War, which led to the city's economic and political decline. The number of inhabitants, which was still 6000 in 1400, fell to less than 3000 around 1680. The principality of Brunswick-Calenberg, to which Göttingen had belonged since 1634, was made an electorate by Emperor Leopold I in 1692 under Duke Ernst August. From 1714, the Electors of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Electoral Hanover) were also kings of Great Britain. Ernst August's son, Elector Georg Ludwig of Hanover, was to ascend the British throne as George I.

Until then, the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg had not had its own university. A university was founded in Göttingen to train the theologians, lawyers and doctors needed in the country. During the reign of George II August of Great Britain, who gave the university its name, teaching at the George August University was opened in 1734.

This half-timbered house from 1585 is decorated with a large bear.

Göttingen - St. Johannis

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 21:36:49 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The origins of Göttingen lay in a village called "Gutingi", first mentioned in a document by Otto I in 953. It is presumed that Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, founded the town northwest of this village, between 1150 and 1200. Its inhabitants obeyed welfish ownership and ruling rights, and the first Göttingen burghers are mentioned then, indicating that Göttingen was already organized as a true city. It was not, however, a Free Imperial City ("Reichsstadt"), but subject to the Welf dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The city was initially protected by ramparts, at the end of the 13th century by walls on top of the ramparts. Permission to erect the wall was granted in 1362 by Duke Ernst of Brunswick-Göttingen, and construction ultimately took 200 years.Around 1350, Göttingen joined the Hanseatic League. Göttingen only became a paying member in 1426, and in 1572 it left the Hanseatic League.

The Reformation initially seemed to bypass Göttingen. Even when the Peasants' War raged through Germany in 1524/25, things remained quiet in Göttingen. It was not until 1529, twelve years after Luther posted his theses, that the Reformation began in Göttingen.

Göttingen suffered greatly during the Thirty Years' War, which led to the city's economic and political decline. The number of inhabitants, which was still 6000 in 1400, fell to less than 3000 around 1680. The principality of Brunswick-Calenberg, to which Göttingen had belonged since 1634, was made an electorate by Emperor Leopold I in 1692 under Duke Ernst August. From 1714, the Electors of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Electoral Hanover) were also kings of Great Britain. Ernst August's son, Elector Georg Ludwig of Hanover, was to ascend the British throne as George I.

Until then, the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg had not had its own university. A university was founded in Göttingen to train the theologians, lawyers and doctors needed in the country. During the reign of George II August of Great Britain, who gave the university its name, teaching at the George August University was opened in 1734.

St. Johannis is a three-nave Gothic hall church from the 14th century.

A Romanesque basilica once stood on the site of the church. It was first mentioned in a document in 1272. The north portal and a round arch portal have survived from her. They were integrated into the new Gothic building. The west facade is designed in early Gothic forms below the free stories of the towers.

The North Tower's historic spire was destroyed by fire in 2005. At first the top of the tower threatened to collapse. The dangerous parts and the charred beams were lifted off on the day of the fire with special cranes and dismantled on the ground.

Just one day after the fire, the police arrested two suspected arsonists, young people aged 19 and 15, who made a confession. The young people had entered the tower via scaffolding. The reconstruction work was completed in February 2006.

Göttingen - St. Johannis

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 21:19:47 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The origins of Göttingen lay in a village called "Gutingi", first mentioned in a document by Otto I in 953. It is presumed that Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, founded the town northwest of this village, between 1150 and 1200. Its inhabitants obeyed welfish ownership and ruling rights, and the first Göttingen burghers are mentioned then, indicating that Göttingen was already organized as a true city. It was not, however, a Free Imperial City ("Reichsstadt"), but subject to the Welf dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The city was initially protected by ramparts, at the end of the 13th century by walls on top of the ramparts. Permission to erect the wall was granted in 1362 by Duke Ernst of Brunswick-Göttingen, and construction ultimately took 200 years.Around 1350, Göttingen joined the Hanseatic League. Göttingen only became a paying member in 1426, and in 1572 it left the Hanseatic League.

The Reformation initially seemed to bypass Göttingen. Even when the Peasants' War raged through Germany in 1524/25, things remained quiet in Göttingen. It was not until 1529, twelve years after Luther posted his theses, that the Reformation began in Göttingen.

Göttingen suffered greatly during the Thirty Years' War, which led to the city's economic and political decline. The number of inhabitants, which was still 6000 in 1400, fell to less than 3000 around 1680. The principality of Brunswick-Calenberg, to which Göttingen had belonged since 1634, was made an electorate by Emperor Leopold I in 1692 under Duke Ernst August. From 1714, the Electors of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Electoral Hanover) were also kings of Great Britain. Ernst August's son, Elector Georg Ludwig of Hanover, was to ascend the British throne as George I.

Until then, the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg had not had its own university. A university was founded in Göttingen to train the theologians, lawyers and doctors needed in the country. During the reign of George II August of Great Britain, who gave the university its name, teaching at the George August University was opened in 1734.

St. Johannis is a three-nave Gothic hall church from the 14th century.

A Romanesque basilica once stood on the site of the church. It was first mentioned in a document in 1272. The north portal and a round arch portal have survived from her. They were integrated into the new Gothic building. The west facade is designed in early Gothic forms below the free stories of the towers.

The North Tower's historic spire was destroyed by fire in 2005. At first the top of the tower threatened to collapse. The dangerous parts and the charred beams were lifted off on the day of the fire with special cranes and dismantled on the ground.

Just one day after the fire, the police arrested two suspected arsonists, young people aged 19 and 15, who made a confession. The young people had entered the tower via scaffolding. The reconstruction work was completed in February 2006.

Göttingen - Universitäts Apotheke

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 22:35:11 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Göttingen - Junkerschänke

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 21:53:04 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The origins of Göttingen lay in a village called "Gutingi", first mentioned in a document by Otto I in 953. It is presumed that Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony and Bavaria, founded the town northwest of this village, between 1150 and 1200. Its inhabitants obeyed welfish ownership and ruling rights, and the first Göttingen burghers are mentioned then, indicating that Göttingen was already organized as a true city. It was not, however, a Free Imperial City ("Reichsstadt"), but subject to the Welf dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg. The city was initially protected by ramparts, at the end of the 13th century by walls on top of the ramparts. Permission to erect the wall was granted in 1362 by Duke Ernst of Brunswick-Göttingen, and construction ultimately took 200 years.Around 1350, Göttingen joined the Hanseatic League. Göttingen only became a paying member in 1426, and in 1572 it left the Hanseatic League.

The Reformation initially seemed to bypass Göttingen. Even when the Peasants' War raged through Germany in 1524/25, things remained quiet in Göttingen. It was not until 1529, twelve years after Luther posted his theses, that the Reformation began in Göttingen.

Göttingen suffered greatly during the Thirty Years' War, which led to the city's economic and political decline. The number of inhabitants, which was still 6000 in 1400, fell to less than 3000 around 1680. The principality of Brunswick-Calenberg, to which Göttingen had belonged since 1634, was made an electorate by Emperor Leopold I in 1692 under Duke Ernst August. From 1714, the Electors of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Electoral Hanover) were also kings of Great Britain. Ernst August's son, Elector Georg Ludwig of Hanover, was to ascend the British throne as George I.

Until then, the Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg had not had its own university. A university was founded in Göttingen to train the theologians, lawyers and doctors needed in the country. During the reign of George II August of Great Britain, who gave the university its name, teaching at the George August University was opened in 1734.

Junkerschänke - erected in 1451 and used as a pub since 1883. There are numerous carvings on the facade. Among other things, there are biblical scenes and signs of the zodiac.

Braunschweig - Gumball machine

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 22 May 2023 19:54:19 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

What a combination! Rubber - Gum.
A condom- and a gumball machine.

Braunschweig

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 22 May 2023 17:19:15 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Not much is known about the foundation of Braunschweig. Tradition tells, Brunswick (= Braunschweig) was created through the merger of two settlements on either side of the River Oker around 860.

The city was first mentioned in documents from the St. Magni Church in 1031. Up to the 12th century, Brunswick was ruled by the Saxon noble family, then, through marriage, it fell to the House of Welf. In 1142, Henry the Lion of the House of Welf became Duke of Saxony and made Braunschweig the capital of his state. He turned Dankwarderode Castle into his own Pfalz and developed the city further to represent his authority. Under Henry's rule, the Cathedral of St. Blasius was built and he also had the statue of a lion, his heraldic animal, erected in front of the castle.

Henry the Lion became so powerful that he dared to refuse military aid to Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, which led to his banishment in 1182. Henry went into exile in England. He had previously established ties to the English crown in 1168, through his marriage to King Henry II of England's daughter Matilda, sister of Richard the Lionheart. However, his son Otto, who could regain influence and was eventually crowned Holy Roman Emperor, continued to foster the city's development.

Brunswick was an important center of trade, an economic and a political centers and a member of the Hanseatic League from the 13th century on. By the year 1600. Brunswick was the seventh largest city in Germany. It was de facto ruled independently by a powerful class of patricians and the guilds throughout much of the Late Middle Ages and the early modern period. Because of the growing power of Brunswick's burghers, the Princes of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel finally moved their Residenz out of the city and to the nearby town of Wolfenbüttel in 1432. The Princes of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel did not regain control over the city until the late 17th century, when Rudolph Augustus, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, took the city by siege.

During WWII, Braunschweig was in 42 bombing raids. In October 1944, the attack caused a massive conflagration and resulted in Braunschweig burning continuously for two and a half days. More than 90 percent of the medieval city center was destroyed. So today the city center is a mix of rebuilt old buildings and new ones, erected after WWII.