Hanover fairground
Encyclopedia
The Hanover fairground (in German
: Messegelände Hannover) is an exhibition
area in the Mittelfeld district of Hanover, Germany. Featuring 496,000 m² (5.3 million sq.ft.) of covered indoor space, 58,000 m² (624,306 sq ft) of open-air space, 27 halls and pavilions and a convention centre with 35 function rooms, it is the largest exhibition ground in the world.
The area of the fairground originally was an aircraft
works. After World War II
, the British military government
of occupied Germany wanted to hold a trade fair and sought for a good place, since Leipzig
, the traditional fairground of Germany, was unavailable, being in the Soviet occupation zone. The hangars in Laatzen
, south of Hanover, were deemed suitable for this purpose, and so the Hanover Fair, then named Exportmesse 1947 was first held in 1947. The concept proved to be successful, and so a permanent fairground was established, growing over the years.
Tower) is a tower
built of two concrete
tubes on the fairground. The building was constructed between 1956 and 1958. Its total height, including the antenna
, is 88.8 m, an observation deck at 65 m can be reached with an elevator
.
way network since 1949. The original terminus, called Messegelände, has been moved several times, the last time in 1982, when the line was upgraded to become part of the Hanover Stadtbahn
, and is now situated at the entrance Nord 2, between halls 1 and 18. Service to the city centre is provided by the regular line 8 as well as the peak line 18. During the large fairs, like CeBIT
or Hannover Messe, there is a special peak hour express service, denoted by the letter E, which only stops at the stations Hauptbahnhof, Kröpcke
and Aegidientorplatz. By employing highly-efficient dispatching methods, trains can run in intervals as little as 90 seconds, each train able up to carry as much as 700 passengers.
, a new line was built that connects the fairground to the Kronsberg city borough. It is currently served by the line 6. When there are fairs or other large-scale events on the fairground, the additional line 16 increases the number of services. There are no express trains.
As soon as the line was completed, the old terminus at Hall 1 was renamed to EXPO/Nord whist the new terminus carried the name of EXPO/Ost. After the Expo, the terminuses were renamed to Messe/Nord (lines 8 and 18) and Messe/Ost (lines 6 and 16) respectively.
For the Expo 2000, an entirely new railway station was constructed some 500 metres west of the fairground on the Hanoverian Southern Railway and the Hanover–Würzburg high-speed railway. It is linked by the Skywalk, a peoplemover
that works like a horizontal escalator
. The railway station is named Hannover Messe/Laatzen
after the suburb of Laatzen
, which has a common border with Hanover near the fairground. It is only notably used during CeBIT and Hannover Messe, outside of this period only regional services stop at the station. Since December 2008 the station has been connected to the Hanover S-Bahn
, the city's suburban railway system.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Messegelände Hannover) is an exhibition
Trade fair
A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities...
area in the Mittelfeld district of Hanover, Germany. Featuring 496,000 m² (5.3 million sq.ft.) of covered indoor space, 58,000 m² (624,306 sq ft) of open-air space, 27 halls and pavilions and a convention centre with 35 function rooms, it is the largest exhibition ground in the world.
History
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
works. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the British military government
Bizone
The Bizone, or Bizonia was the combination of the American and the British occupation zones in 1947 during the occupation of Germany after World War II. With the addition of the French occupation zone in March 1948, the entity became the Trizone...
of occupied Germany wanted to hold a trade fair and sought for a good place, since Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, the traditional fairground of Germany, was unavailable, being in the Soviet occupation zone. The hangars in Laatzen
Laatzen
Laatzen is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated directly south of Hanover.-Division of the town:In 1964, the municipalities of Laatzen and Grasdorf were merged into the city Laatzen...
, south of Hanover, were deemed suitable for this purpose, and so the Hanover Fair, then named Exportmesse 1947 was first held in 1947. The concept proved to be successful, and so a permanent fairground was established, growing over the years.
Timeline
- 1947: Exportmesse held for the first time (August 18 - September 7).
- 1948: First intercontinental telephone call between Hanover and New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. - 1950: Exportmesse is renamed to Deutsche Industrie-Messe
- 1956-1958: Hermesturm erected.
- 1961: The Deutsche Industrie-Messe is renamed to Hannover Messe.
- 1970: Hall 1 is opened, then the largest exhibition hall in the world. It becomes permanent home to CeBITCeBITCeBIT is the world's largest and most international computer expo. CeBIT is held each year on the world's largest fairground in Hanover, Germany, and is a barometer of the state of the art in information technology...
, a subdivision of the Hanover Industry Fair. - 1986: The CeBITCeBITCeBIT is the world's largest and most international computer expo. CeBIT is held each year on the world's largest fairground in Hanover, Germany, and is a barometer of the state of the art in information technology...
computer expoComputer expoA computer expo or computer show is a trade fair or exposition for computers and electronics. Expos usually include company or organization booths where products and technologies are demonstrated; talks and lectures; and general mixing of people with common interests.- Notable Computer...
is held independently for the first time, after outgrowing the Industry Fair. - 1990s: The fairground undergoes extensive remodeling in preparation for the Expo 2000Expo 2000Expo 2000 was a World's Fair held in Hanover, Germany from Thursday, June 1 to Tuesday, October 31, 2000. It was located on the Hanover fairground , which is famous for hosting CeBIT...
. Hall 13 is constructed, at its time of completion the largest hall in the world without internal structural beams. - 2000, June-October: The Expo 2000Expo 2000Expo 2000 was a World's Fair held in Hanover, Germany from Thursday, June 1 to Tuesday, October 31, 2000. It was located on the Hanover fairground , which is famous for hosting CeBIT...
world exhibition is held at the fairground and the surrounding areas. - 2000: The Messehochhaus at the northern end of the area becomes the new home of the Deutsche Messe AG, the fairground's operator. It is a 20-floor highrise that stands at 110 m (360 ft) with antenna.
Structures
The Hermesturm (HermesHermes
Hermes is the great messenger of the gods in Greek mythology and a guide to the Underworld. Hermes was born on Mount Kyllini in Arcadia. An Olympian god, he is also the patron of boundaries and of the travelers who cross them, of shepherds and cowherds, of the cunning of thieves, of orators and...
Tower) is a tower
Tower
A tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
built of two concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
tubes on the fairground. The building was constructed between 1956 and 1958. Its total height, including the antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
, is 88.8 m, an observation deck at 65 m can be reached with an elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
.
Northern light rail line
The fairground has been linked to the city's tramTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way network since 1949. The original terminus, called Messegelände, has been moved several times, the last time in 1982, when the line was upgraded to become part of the Hanover Stadtbahn
Hanover Stadtbahn
The Hanover Stadtbahn is a Stadtbahn light rail system in the city of Hanover, Germany that opened in September 1975, gradually replacing the city's tramway network over the course of the following 25 years. As of 2005, it transports 115 million passengers per year...
, and is now situated at the entrance Nord 2, between halls 1 and 18. Service to the city centre is provided by the regular line 8 as well as the peak line 18. During the large fairs, like CeBIT
CeBIT
CeBIT is the world's largest and most international computer expo. CeBIT is held each year on the world's largest fairground in Hanover, Germany, and is a barometer of the state of the art in information technology...
or Hannover Messe, there is a special peak hour express service, denoted by the letter E, which only stops at the stations Hauptbahnhof, Kröpcke
Kröpcke
Kröpcke is the central place of the city of Hanover in Germany. The place is situated at the crossroads of Georgstraße, Karmarschstraße, Bahnhofstraße and Rathenaustraße. It is named after Wilhelm Kröpcke, one of the owners of the former Café Robby, which was erected on the then-nameless place in...
and Aegidientorplatz. By employing highly-efficient dispatching methods, trains can run in intervals as little as 90 seconds, each train able up to carry as much as 700 passengers.
Eastern light rail line
For the Expo 2000Expo 2000
Expo 2000 was a World's Fair held in Hanover, Germany from Thursday, June 1 to Tuesday, October 31, 2000. It was located on the Hanover fairground , which is famous for hosting CeBIT...
, a new line was built that connects the fairground to the Kronsberg city borough. It is currently served by the line 6. When there are fairs or other large-scale events on the fairground, the additional line 16 increases the number of services. There are no express trains.
As soon as the line was completed, the old terminus at Hall 1 was renamed to EXPO/Nord whist the new terminus carried the name of EXPO/Ost. After the Expo, the terminuses were renamed to Messe/Nord (lines 8 and 18) and Messe/Ost (lines 6 and 16) respectively.
Railway
In the 1960s, a railway station was built near the halls, however this was soon found to be pretty impractical, as the station was constructed as a terminal of a branch line, making connections to and from main line trains rather difficult. However, it found its uses for dedicated services to the fairground.For the Expo 2000, an entirely new railway station was constructed some 500 metres west of the fairground on the Hanoverian Southern Railway and the Hanover–Würzburg high-speed railway. It is linked by the Skywalk, a peoplemover
PeopleMover
The PeopleMover, sometimes referred to as the WEDWay PeopleMover, was a transport attraction that operated from July 2, 1967 to August 21, 1995 in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Guests boarded small trains that ran on elevated tracks for a "grand circle tour" above Tomorrowland...
that works like a horizontal escalator
Escalator
An escalator is a moving staircase – a conveyor transport device for carrying people between floors of a building. The device consists of a motor-driven chain of individual, linked steps that move up or down on tracks, allowing the step treads to remain horizontal.Escalators are used around the...
. The railway station is named Hannover Messe/Laatzen
Hannover Messe/Laatzen station
Hannover Messe/Laatzen station is a Category 4 station in the German town of Laatzen near the Hanover fairground . It is normally served only by the Hanover S-Bahn. During major events such as CeBIT and Hanover Messe all passing regional and long distance stop at the station...
after the suburb of Laatzen
Laatzen
Laatzen is a town in the district of Hanover, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated directly south of Hanover.-Division of the town:In 1964, the municipalities of Laatzen and Grasdorf were merged into the city Laatzen...
, which has a common border with Hanover near the fairground. It is only notably used during CeBIT and Hannover Messe, outside of this period only regional services stop at the station. Since December 2008 the station has been connected to the Hanover S-Bahn
Hanover S-Bahn
The Hanover S-Bahn is an S-Bahn network operated by DB Regio in the area of Hanover in the German state capital of Lower Saxony...
, the city's suburban railway system.