Since the German reunification, the City of Braunschweig is again in the middle of Germany. It is more than 1000 years old, and was chosen by Henry the Lion as his place of residence during the middle of the 12th century. This initiated Braunschweig's development into a large medieval city with a cathedral and a castle. The city was an independent merchant town from the 13th century with connections all over Northern Europe until 1671, when it once again became a residence city. The Collegium Carolinum that is now known as the Technical University Carolo-Wilhelmina at Braunschweig was founded in this period, in 1745. Therefore, TU Braunschweig is Germany's oldest technical university and looks back on a two and a half century tradition of academic teaching and research.
The city is a center of science and the arts, but also of the industry, best represented by the close-by main site of Volkswagen. It was badly destroyed during the 2nd world war but has been rebuilt as a center for research, culture and the economy. Braunschweig is nowadays the centre of one of the most active German research regions. Therefore, it is also Germany's city of science 2007, a competition now in its third round. The city is attractively located in Northern Germany with the Lüneburger Heide in the North and the Harz Mountains in the South. It is located at Germany's most important east-west arteries for transport on rail and road and thus, easily reached.
Braunschweig is located about 250 km west from Berlin in the center of Northern Germany.
International travellers can easily reach Braunschweig by flying to Hannover, Berlin or Frankfurt. The ICE train connects Braunschweig to Hannover (45 minutes), Berlin (1:30 hours) and Frankfurt (2:45 hours). Frankfurt has excellent long-distant flight connections and is one of the most important hubs in Europe. Berlin is well-connected to the rest of Europe by air. The cost-conscious may appreciate that it is serviced by many low-cost airlines.
Hannover is also well-connected to the rest of Europe, e.g., to major airport hubs like London, Paris, and Amsterdam. From Hannover, besides train connections, also airport shuttle can be used to get to Braunschweig (wich is then even approximately comparable in cost and time with taxis between New York airports and Manhattan).
From Hannover Airport (IATA code HAJ/ICAO code EDDV) you have to pick train line S5 to Hannover Hauptbahnhof. At Hannover Hauptbahnhof there are several trains to Braunschweig.
From Frankfurt Airport (IATA code FRA/ICAO code EDDF) you have to change train at Frankfurt main station.
Further train schedules can be found using the web site of Deutsche Bahn. Queries in english can be made here.
From Braunschweig Hauptbahnhof you can proceed by tram line M1 or M2 heading Siegfriedviertel or Wenden, leaving at tram stop Mühlenpfordtstraße right next to the Computer Science Building. Alternatively, you can enter bus line M19 at Braunschweig Hauptbahnhof leaving at bus stop Pockelsstraße and walk into Pockelsstraße approx. 250 meter south heading University Central Area and then right (west) into Schleinitzstraße approx. additional 250 meters reaching the Computer Science Building at crossing Schleinitzstraße/Mühlenpfordtstraße.
Approaching from south on highway A7 you have to switch to highway A39 heading Salzgitter. Near Braunschweig you switch to A391 and follow the signs heading Exit Hamburger Straße.
Approaching from other directions you should reach Braunschweig on highway 2 and switch at highway crossing Braunschweig Nord to highway A391 heading Kassel (south). Then you have to follow the signs heading Exit Hamburger Straße.
Leaving the highway at Exit Hambuger Straße you have to turn right onto Hambuger Straße heading downtown (Stadtmitte). After approx. 600 meters at a huge crossing you have to turn left and at the next crossing right, still heading downtown. Proceeding just 200 meters you'll see the Computer Science Building at the left side. Parking facilities are quite limited in this area and there are some oneway streets so that it could take some time to find a parking lot nearby. Often the best chances to find a lot are on the TU parking area at Katharinenstraße.
The main entrance of the Computer Science Building is at the south west corner of the old tower block. Yet, several other entries to the building exist as well. The Institute of Operating Systems and Computer Networks is located on floor 1 (in Germany, this is not the ground level). Look for IBR signs. Please note that there's a separate "gallerie floor" between the ground floor and the 1st floor.
You can find further information on Braunschweig, including an online city map, further transportation information and a hotel list at the city's web site.