City Portrait

Hildesheim – Rich in History and Culture

Hildesheim has a lot to offer as a tourist destination: the city is particularly well known for its churches – the Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church are impressive examples of Romanesque religious art dating from the Holy Roman Empire. The UNESCO honoured this by adding both St. Michael’s Church and St. Mary’s Cathedral to the list of World Cultural Heritage sites in 1985. Both churches still have an unusually large number of historical objects, which provide a unique overview of the way in which the churches were decorated and designed during the Romanesque period. In the Cathedral, this includes Bernwardian door, which was cast in bronze in 1015, and Christ’s pillar dating from 1020, impressive evidence of the enormous creative talent of Bishop Bernward. With its monumental painted ceiling dating from the 13th century depicting the lineage of Christ, St. Michael’s Church is considered to be one of the most beautiful early Romanesque churches in Germany. As masterpieces of religious architecture, these two churches fascinate tourists and art experts alike with their art treasures. The 1000-year-old rosebush, which continues to bloom at the apses of the Cathedral, is also one of the city’s popular tourist attractions.

The historical market square is the touristic heart of Hildesheim. With its buildings, which were carefully reconstructed after having been destroyed in WW II, it once again presents a complete picture today and draws crowds of tourists every year.

Hildesheim’s museums are home to treasures of international renown. The Roemer- and Pelizaeus-Museum is particularly well known for its Ancient Egyptian collection, which is one of the largest and most impressive in all of Europe. In addition, the museum has made a name for itself with outstanding special exhibitions on a wide variety of different topics. The famous Butchers’ Guildhall houses the City Museum, which features presentations on the history of Hildesheim and the surrounding region.

Anyone interested in culture can take advantage of many different events, concerts, exhibitions and theatre performances throughout the entire year. The varied repertoire of the “Theater für Niedersachsen” (Theatre for Lower Saxony – TfN), which is based in Hildesheim, includes operas, plays, concerts and even has its own musical company. This theatre scene in Hildesheim is complemented by an impressive free theatre scene – with perhaps first and foremost, the Theaterhaus Hildesheim. A large number of sport events, festivals, markets and open-air events attract large, enthusiastic audiences during the summer months in Hildesheim. Whether it’s the “Nights of Romance” with classical sounds, “Pflasterzauber” (Magic on the Cobblestones), the street artist festival featuring pantomimes, pyrotechnics and lots of music or Jazztime and the M’era Luna Festival for the Gothic scene – there is certainly something for everyone in Hildesheim. The University of Hildesheim also offers culture and entertainment, organising the festive mid-summer’s night in the Marienburg Manor. The monastery concert in Marienrode is a delight to the ears and the eyes with a most picturesque backdrop, the Rosenstadt initiative organizes the popular Magdalenen Festival above the St. Godehard Basilica, the Association of the Fine Arts presents the crème de la crème from the regional art scene with its annual exhibition in the Stammelbach warehouse and the Olympic Camp sets up its tents at the Jo-Wiese outdoor swimming pool every summer and was named as one of the “Selected Places in the Land of Ideas” in 2009.

Hildesheim owes its rich diversity not least to more than 11,000 of students who take advantage of the many courses of study offered at the University of Hildesheim, the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen (HAWK) and the North German Technical College for Legal Assistants.

As a compactly designed shopping city, Hildesheim is a magnet for a large surrounding region. With attractively designed pedestrian zones and shopping streets with small shops interspersed with large department stores, it’s difficult to resist going on an extended shopping expedition once you’re in the city centre.

Hildesheim’s guests will discover relaxation and repose in the many green spaces and parks in and around the city. The Ernst-Ehrlicher-Park with its old trees, the green Kehrwieder Wall, the Hohnsen Lake recreation area with the JoBeach and the Hildesheim Forest offer ample opportunities to take walks and go hiking or jogging. The Magdalenen Gardens, which were completely redesigned in 2003 on the basis of old plans dating from the Baroque period, are also well worth a visit – one of the oldest convent gardens in Lower Saxony and the venue of a garden festival each year in June. One of its main features is the rosarium with more than 1,500 rosebushes.

Well-signed paths, along the Radweg-zur-Kunst (Cycling Path to Art), for example, take cyclists in the area around Hildesheim all the way to major national cycling paths. The plains of the Hildesheimer Börde (a lowland area) and the Giften Lakes recreation area, the Leine and Innerste Rivers and the Leine hill country and foothills of the Harz Mountains provide many more opportunities for recreational activities and holidaymaking. In the surrounding area, the summer residence of the last Queen of Hanover, Marienburg Castle, the Fagus Factories in Alfeld, built by Walter Gropius, and Bad Salzdetfurth, a spa city, are all also well worth a visit.

Come and discover all the exciting sights and attractions that Hildesheim has to offer – we look forward to seeing you here soon!