Have you ever heard of Braunschweig? There’s a good chance you haven’t, as it’s not the most well-known German city or a place that people would go out of their way to visit.
For me, the most compelling reason to visit Braunschweig was none other than the Happy Rizzi House. This house is actually an office complex that appears as if Sponge Bob Square Pants went on an all-night drinking binge and puked all over the building.
When I first saw pictures of the building, I thought “No way! It doesn’t even look real.” I knew right then and there that I needed to see it for myself and add yet another site to my very long list of unusual places to visit.
Go On A Day Trip From Berlin And Visit Braunschweig
So off I went to Braunschweig and discovered that there’s much more to the small city of 250,000 people than one might think. I also came across more oddities than I ever thought possible for such a small place!
Here are just some of the reasons you should visit Braunschweig.
1) Braunschweiger Dom
Also known as the Brunswick Cathedral, it’s surprisingly beautiful and reminded me somewhat of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona from the inside. On the Saturday I visited, a few old ladies were selling freshly baked bread near the entrance. There’s a cool table with a mirrored glass surface so you can not only gaze lovingly at yourself but catch a different perspective of the cathedral. You’ll also find a bizarre altar dedicated to a chicken, some spooky crypts, and a large seven-armed candlestick dating back to around 1180 AD.
2) Braunschweiger Schloss
A former palace that’s now home to a shopping center and bears a slight resemblance to Berlin’s Brandenburger Tor. To be honest, I never went inside, but walking around and viewing the carefully restored exterior was enough for me. I was even fortunate enough to see a double rainbow over the Schloss Arkaden! Outside, I was also entertained by a group of top-hat wearing men singing to the crowds for money and oddly, their cash was being collected by a man wearing a long white robe and nightcap.
3) Steam Engine Train Monument
Transportation nerds can visit this monument located next to Braunschweig Hauptbahnhof.
4) Mutter Habenicht
This cute German pub, furnished with rather eclectic and kitsch pieces is a great place to stop for beer and a bite to eat. With a menu in German, English, and Italian you can order things like a Hoppel Poppel (home-fried potatoes with ham and scrambled eggs) or a Feuertopf (a spicy soup with a lot of meat). On nice days, you can enjoy the small beer garden outside.
5) The Happy Rizzi House
And the main reason for my visit to Braunschweig? The Happy Rizzi House didn’t disappoint. I watched as people walked by, stop dead in their tracks, shake their heads with a smile, and snap a photo or two with their phones. I guess the building is doing its job well and making people happy!
Would you visit Braunschweig? Have we missed any good points of interest? Tell us about in the comments.
Good To Know
1) If you’re staying in Braunschweig for more than a day, find somewhere to stay with booking.com.
Booking.com2) When in Braunschweig, make your time memorable and go on a guided tour.
3) Our readers love Germany and if you need further travel inspiration, check out some of their very favorite posts.
- A Day Trip from Berlin To Görlitz In Photos – Take a day trip from Berlin to Görlitz, one of Germany’s prettiest towns. With a stunning old town & proximity to Poland, it’s worth a visit.
- Photos From The Hanse Sail In Rostock, Germany – The annual Hanse Sail in Rostock is Germany’s most popular maritime festival. See our photos of tall ships and medieval entertainment.
- Pictures From A Potsdam Bike Tour – Escape Berlin for the day and go on a Potsdam bike tour adventure. View our photos for a preview of the day’s highlights.
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Great post, Cheryl. I like to go off the beaten track wherever I travel. And despite its resorts, it’s easier than you’d think to do so in my current base, the Canary Islands.
@Matthew – Thanks! Braunschweig is definitely a quirky place.
Awesome day…I love the shot of the locomotive.
@DJ – Thank you. It was an odd, but totally fun day! 🙂
Wow – Happy Rizzi looks like something out of an Orlando theme park! Wild!
@Andrea – The building is insane! I wasn’t sure whether or not the Drunken House in Sopot could be topped, but this definitely did just that. =)
Wow, love the Rizzi house – so funky!
@A Montrealer Abroad – pretty crazy isn’t it?? 🙂