Surrounding area
Our beer garden is situated in the midst of Hanover’s green heartland – Eilenriede. Did you know that Hanover boasts the largest urban forest in Europe, with an area of 650 hectares? Even London’s Hyde Park and the Bois de Boulogne in Paris can’t match it. Offering a network of around 80 km of paths, ponds, sunbathing areas, children’s playgrounds and, of course, our Hotel Bischofshol, Eilenriede meets all the needs of visitors seeking repose. And if you keep a good look out, you might spot one of the many indigenous forest creatures, including deer, pheasants and bats.
Hotel Bischofshol is an ideal starting point for joggers who want to try out some of Hanover’s most interesting routes.
Example: From Bischofshol, jog once around Maschsee and back: 12km (omitting the circuit around the lake: 6 km).
History
We have Saxony’s Wenzeslaus and Albrecht to thank for the city’s “green lungs”. In 1371, they presented the 650 hectares of woodland to the Hanoverians as a gift. And because the woods were stocked with a large number of alder trees, the forest was named “Ellernried” (Ellern being the German word for “alder”), which was later changed to Eilenriede.
The hotel and forest inn are located in an area that played a key part in the development of the city of Hanover.
On 1 June 1371, Dukes Wenzel and Albrecht von Sachsen-Wittenberg granted the city of Hanover a “great privilege”, including unrestricted use of the city forest Eilenriede, as a thank you for their assistance during the Lüneburg War of Succession (1371-1388).
Shortly afterwards, Hanover’s citizens constructed a further outer ring of defence in Eilenriede consisting of ditches, walls and impenetrable hedgerows. This is known as the “Stadtwehr” (city defence). At the points where paths entered it, stone towers (look-outs) were built; these still stand today (Döhrener Turm and Pferdeturm) or are remembered in the names of buildings or other local sites (Listerturm, Kirchröderturm, Steuerndieb, Lüneburger Landwehr, Pinkenburg and Bischofshol).
The defensive structure on the site of today’s forest inn and Hotel Bischofshol was first mentioned in 1461 under the name of “Bischuppes Holt”. The unusual name “Bischofshol” was therefore probably not derived in the way that legend has it – from the tale where the Bishop of Hildesheim came to the rescue of Hanover’s clergy as they fled the city during the Reformation in 1533.
A forest warden’s house was built on the site and was later turned into a simple but highly popular inn after it became licensed to serve alcohol in 1681. This was replaced by a half-timbered building in 1797 after the tower’s disappearance. The building was then torn down in 1968 to make way for a new hotel and inn designed by architects Hübotter, Ledeboer and Busch. This building is still there today. In January 1998, the interior of the hotel and restaurant was redesigned and modernised, and the beer garden and “Waldbühne” stage were added. Finally, the hotel was given a new wing for EXPO 2000, increasing the number of rooms from 12 to 45.
Bischofshol therefore offers both modern hospitality and long-standing tradition. Perhaps this brief glance at the local history might tempt some of our guests to look out for the many historical sites whender through Eilenriede, especially in the triangle between the Pferdeturm, Kirchröderturm and Bischofshol.
Hanover
The state capital of Lower Saxony is just waiting to be explored – whether you’re a Hanoverian or not. Welcome to the city! We have put together a few useful links to help you find your way around Hanover:
www.hannover.de
www.stadtplandienst.de
shopping.hannover.de
www.herrenhaeuser-gaerten.de www.zoo-hannover.de www.hanoplis.de
Nightlife
If you don’t fancy heading out of the hotel, there’s no reason for you to be bored. Enjoy dinner or a couple of drinks on the outdoor terrace – a perfect setting in summer. Even when it’s colder and the weather’s unpleasant in the winter months, you can find a comfortable spot in the hotel: Our restaurant and bar area offer all the atmosphere of a cosy hut. Enjoy your stay!
