St Mary’s Cathedral and St Michael’s Church at Hildesheim
By Brandon
What are St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church at Hildesheim?
St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church are two historic sites located in the city of Hildesheim in the German state of Lower Saxony.
St. Michael’s Church was constructed in the early 11th century as a Benedictine abbey church. It is known for its decorated wooden ceiling and painted stuccowork, which date to the 12th century. Its two apses are typical of Ottonian Romanesque architecture.
St. Mary’s Cathedral is known to house unique art, particularly its bronze doors and bronze column. Modeled after St. Michael’s, it dates to the 11th century, but with an older crypt.
Unfortunately, both churches were damaged during WWII but have since been restored. Many of the unique historical artifacts that are on display at each location survived.
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Why are these two churches in Hildesheim a UNESCO World Heritage site?
The cathedral and the church were added to the UNESCO list in 1985 because of the importance of the bronzes in the cathedral and the ceiling in St. Michael’s. The architecture of St. Michael’s “exerted great influence on developments in medieval architecture,” according to UNESCO. Both churches are important as well because of what we learn from their decoration: they “afford better and more immediate overall understanding than any other decoration in Romanesque churches in the Christian West.”
What can you expect on a visit to St. Mary’s and St. Michael’s?
If you’ve traveled around Europe, then you are familiar with beautiful cathedrals and churches. These churches in Hildesheim are no exception. They are massive and must-visit attractions in Hildesheim.
In my honest opinion, however, these two churches are not the most impressive in Germany. Consider, for example, the cathedrals in Aachen, Speyer and Cologne, all of which are also UNESCO sites. But the art housed inside the ones at Hildesheim makes a visit worthwhile. St. Mary’s Cathedral has a beautiful courtyard with a famous thousand-year rose bush that is said to date back to the year 815. Many works of art from Bernward of Hildesheim are stored in the cathedral, including the bronze Bernward Doors (from 1015), which show events from the Book of Genesis and the life of Christ.
St. Michael’s Church’s most notable feature is the wooden ceiling that is beautifully decorated. Bernward of Hildesheim lies in the crypt here.
Is Hildesheim worth visiting?
I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to visit these churches at Hildesheim if you are visiting Germany, unless you are passing by, in which case it is certainly worth the effort.
There are beautiful churches all over Germany, many that are even more impressive. I was traveling in Lower Saxony and my route passed Hildesheim, so to me it was worth the break. I try and visit as many
UNESCO sites as possible.
If you do happen to stop in Hildesheim to visit St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church, I recommend at least 30 minutes per church, but you can easily spend several hours in Hildesheim to see other attractions within the city.
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What sorts of travelers would like St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church?
There are those people who travel to Europe and can visit every church and cathedral they see. Then there are those that say they’ve seen one church and they’ve seen them all. I am fascinated with all the giant churches in Europe and can visit each and every one of them.
If you can relate, then visiting St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church is worthwhile. I think any person interested in history, architecture and art would find these churches fascinating.
Tips for visiting St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church at Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a walkable city, so both churches can easily be seen on foot from the city center.
Both churches are free to enter. I spent about 30 minutes to an hour in each church to include walking the grounds. Hildesheim isn’t a popular tourist destination. For the most part I had both churches to myself.
Prior to visiting the two churches, check opening times and if they are open during certain holidays throughout the year. Like any religious site, treat these churches with respect and be quiet throughout your visit.
While visiting Hildesheim, make sure to check out other sites around town to include the Marktplatz or town center and walk the main shopping street. Here you can find great German and international restaurants as well as beautiful half-timbered architecture.
Two other UNESCO sites, Quedlinburg and Wartburg Castle, are not too far from Hildesheim. If you’re road-tripping around Germany, take a look at the Germany map of UNESCO sites while you make your plans.
Where are St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church at Hildesheim?
St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church are located in the town of Hildesheim, Lower Saxony, Germany.
- St. Mary’s Cathedral’s address is: Mariendom Hildesheim Domhof 31134 Hildesheim.
- St. Michael’s Church’s address is: Michaelispl. 2, 31134 Hildesheim.
From Germany’s capital city, Berlin, Hildesheim is a 3.5-hour drive. It is about a 40-minute drive along the A7 from Hannover. From Bremen, Hildesheim is just shy of a 2-hour drive.
Train is also a good option if driving is out of the question. Taking the train from Berlin to Hildesheim is around 2.5 hours. A train ride from Hanover takes less then 30 minutes. From Bremen, the train ride is
about 2 hours.
For more information about these churches and their opening hours, see their official websites: St. Michael’s Church (only in German) and St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Have you been to the Hildesheim churches? If so, do you have any additional information or advice about this UNESCO World Heritage site? Please add your comments below!