Lake Maschsee Festival in Hannover

The lake's the star at Hannover's Lake Maschsee Festival, with strolls on palm-lined promenades, dance evenings by the water's edge, boat trips and torchlight swimming. Lake Maschsee stretches for 2.4 kilometres and the 19-day programme features some 50 spots around the water as well as free concerts on four big stages. Every year around 1.8 million people lap up the mediterranean atmosphere in the heart of Lower Saxony's capital.