Celle, Historic district capital in Lower Saxony, Germany.
Celle is a district capital in Lower Saxony, Germany, as well as a large independent city with residential areas spreading around the old core. The castle stands over the Aller river and marks the southern edge of the historic center, where hundreds of timber-framed houses rise on narrow plots.
The castle was built in the 13th century and later became the residence of the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg, who lived here from 1378 to 1705. The dukes remodeled it in Renaissance style and supported the expansion of the town, shaping much of the old quarter that stands today.
The name comes from the Latin word cella, meaning chamber or small room, and refers to an early monastery on the site. Walking through the narrow lanes, you see carved beams above doorways that often indicate the trade of the original occupants.
The old quarter is easy to explore on foot, and most sights lie within a few minutes of each other. Parking is available on the edges of the center, while the train station offers regular connections to Hamburg and Hannover.
Two lampposts in the city center are fitted with speaking systems that tell passersby stories from the past in both standard German and the local Lower Saxon dialect. The technology activates when someone walks by, sharing local anecdotes along an everyday route.
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