The Lower Saxony State Museum (Landesmuseum) contains a great blend of displays in artistic, archeological, historical and ethnological realms. It also hosts enclosures for various animals, including fish and reptiles. Bring your kids to this eclectic museum to learn about its many themes.
The museum is the largest and most visited in the federal state of Lower Saxony. Go to the art section and browse the works that date back to the Middle Ages and continue to the present day. The collection contains pieces by such Old Masters as Rembrandt and Rubens.
For a change of scenery, venture into the natural history area and gaze up at the models of dinosaurs. This section also contains the vivarium, which holds about 2,000 living animals. Bring your kids to look at the native and exotic fish, amphibians, reptiles and insects.
Inspect the stuffed animals on display and find out about the ecosystems in the habitats of the state, which include heathland, the North Sea and the Harz mountains. Learn about 200,000 years of humanity in the prehistory department, through themes such as settlement, burial customs and spiritual beliefs. Discover the mummified remains found on the moors of Lower Saxony.
Make your way to the ethnology section that contains about 14,000 exhibits from across the globe. The ancient cultures of Mexico and Peru are of particular interest. Admire the coin collection with pieces from a great range of time periods and locations.
The museum opens Tuesday through Sunday from morning until late afternoon, staying open later on Thursdays. There is an entrance fee, with discounts for groups. Enter the museum for free on Friday afternoons.
The Lower Saxony State Museum is a little south of the historic centre of Hannover. Ride the U-Bahn public transportation system to Hannover Aegidientorplatz and walk south for a few blocks to get here. Visit nearby sights, such as the Theatre am Aegi, the Neues Rathaus (New Town Hall) and the surrounding Maschpark.
