Why go?

Capital of the district of the same name and gateway to the idyllic Lüneburg Heath, Celle is one of those European towns you dream of discovering. Rich in history and packed with noteworthy architecture, June finds it in full bloom, with meadows, parks and lakes aplenty for exploring. Britain’s link with this particular part of Lower Saxony were strengthened in 1735, when the Celle State Stud landgestuetcelle.de was founded by decree of King George II, Elector of Hanover. The facility, which makes high-quality stallions available to horse breeders, and famed throughout the world for its Hanoverian steeds, is still going strong today. Open daily, a guided tour is a must for equestrians.

What to do

While locals prefer to use their bikes, everything here is easily accessible by foot. Navigating is simple, too, as the romantic old town – Europe’s largest ensemble of half-timbered houses – was built in a chessboard pattern. Pretty much every street leads to the Ducal Palace 00 49 5141 909 0850 which dates back to 1318 and has regal connections to both the UK and Denmark. The palace houses Germany’s only baroque theatre, the Schlosstheater 00 49 5141 905 0875, where you can enjoy a tour or, even better, see a play. Directly across the street from the palace’s main entrance is the world’s first 24-hour art museum 00 49 5141 121 030, kunst.celle.de which showcases paintings and sculptures as well as futuristic light installations. Once the sun goes down, the entire building and surrounding alleys are illuminated. Stroll through the streets and browse the many small boutiques, artisan coffee roasters and cafés. Stop by cosy little shop Alter Provisor alterprovisor.de which stocks retro deco galore but is best known for the herbal liqueur that gave the shop its name, which the people of Celle have been using for centuries to soothe their stomachs. The recipe, which shop owner Dörte Hirschfeld inherited from the pharmacist who used to produce the strong schnapps, is probably the town’s best-kept secret. While Dorte’s lips have remained tightly sealed, she does offer tastings and a bottle makes a perfect souvenir. From here it’s only a stone’s throw to the Italienischer Garten ottohaeslerstiftung.de where you’ll find distinctive Bauhaus buildings from German architect Otto Haesler standing in stark contrast to the rest of the town.

Where to stay

Enjoy five-star pampering within the historic walls of Hotel Fürstenhof 00 49 5141 2010, fuerstenhofcelle.com which was built in 1680 as a palace. It now houses 62 bedrooms with six different themes – history buffs should book one of those in the main building. Bang in the heart of the old town is the Celler Hof 00 49 5141 911 960, cellerhof.de with views of the Ducal Palace. For a comfortable stay in a traditional house, the Hotel St Georg 00 49 5141 210, hotelstgeorg.de is a good option.

Where to eat and drink

You can’t leave Celle without having tried local speciality rohe roulade, made with raw beef and stuffed with bacon, onions and gherkins. The meat has a carpaccio-like quality and the dish is truly outstanding. Give it a try at Martas Restaurant 00 49 5141 889 3677, martas.de where you can order it in thin slices as a starter. Then move on to Heidschnucken dishes, made from the highly regarded meat of local heathland sheep. If, after this you’re feeling bold and want to go all out on an entire roulade, try Bier Akademie 00 49 5141 23450, bierakademiecelle.de which makes the best. Popular with locals, especially at lunchtime, is Ricetime 00 49 5141 409 9702, ricetime.de whose menu features tasty curries and creative sushi such as the ‘holy rolly’ with crunchy salmon and mango mayo and the popular ‘shizzle my nizzle’ burger served on a bao bun. Another hotspot is Taverna & Trattoria Palio at Hotel Fürstenhof 00 49 5141 409 9702, fuerstenhofcelle.com – you’ll understand why they’re fully booked most nights as soon as the home-made pasta dishes arrive.

Time running out?

Take a sightseeing tour around the old town in a romantic horse-drawn carriage. schubotzmuehle.de

Travel Information

Travel Information

Currency is the euro. Time is 2 hours ahead of GMT. Flight time to Hanover is 1. 5 hours, and Celle, a 35-minute drive from there.

Getting There

British Airways flies direct from London Heathrow to Hanover Airport several times daily. britishairways.com

Eurowings offers direct flights daily from London Heathrow and London Stansted airports to Hanover. eurowings.com

Resources

Celle Tourismus is the official tourist board. Visit their website for information on local attractions and events. celletourismus.de