Germany Rediscovers Kaiser Otto IV - Lower Saxony State Exhibition Opens on 08.08.2009 in Braunschweig

BRAUNSCHWEIG, Germany - To mark the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the crowning of Otto IV, the only Holy Roman Emperor from the House of Welf, the Lower Saxony state exhibition entitled “Otto IV - Dream of a Welf Empire” will be held. Otto IV was the son of Henry the Lion and Matilda of England, Duchess of Saxony, and from 1209 to 1218 he reigned as the Holy Roman Emperor. He spent his childhood at the English court of his grandfather, Henry II. Otto cultivated a friendly relationship with his uncle, Richard the Lionheart, who held the English crown from 1189.

In 2009, dubbed the “Kaiserjahr” as it is the anniversary year of his ascendancy, Braunschweig celebrates its position as the seat of the House of Welf by holding the Lower Saxony state exhibition from 8th August to 8th November 2009, as well as a wide-ranging programme with numerous other event highlights.

On Saturday 8th August 2009, the Minister-President of Lower Saxony, Christian Wulff, will open the state exhibition at the cathedral of St. Blasii. After this official opening, the exhibition will be open from 7pm to 10pm. To mark the first exhibition focusing on the only emperor from the House of Welf, the Braunschweig State Museum has brought together top exhibits from all over Europe and will present them in their original setting around the unique Burgplatz in Braunschweig, which was a central location in the life of Otto IV.

One of the crowd pullers in the “Year of the Emperor” is the European Minnesang Festival on 17th and 18th October 2009. International artists will present their songs in medieval vernacular before an impressive historic backdrop in the Braunschweig Altstadtrathaus, in the St. Blasii cathedral and in the Martinikirche and will compete for the honour of being voted the best. The well-known English tenor John Potter will also be giving a concert as part of the Minnesang Festival.

A new audioguide tour created especially for this anniversary year will give visitors an insight into medieval Braunschweig in German and English. The electronic guide presents 26 selected medieval sights with text and images.

Special events, such as the grand Braunschweig Tournament on 12th and 13th of September, are designed particularly with families and children in mind and will really bring the middle ages to life.

Further information is available at www.braunschweig.de/otto_eng Opening times for the state exhibition: daily 10.00 to 18.00, Thursdays 10.00 to 20.00

Press contact: Goldmann Public Relations e.K. Julia Bernreuther jbernreuther@goldmannpr.de Tel: +49(0)89-211-164-11

Source: Braunschweig Stadtmarketing GmbH

Press contact: Goldmann Public Relations e.K., Julia Bernreuther, jbernreuther at goldmannpr.de, Tel.: +49(0)89-211-164-11