Hildesheim Cathedral
Hildesheimer Dom (Mariendom)
A UNESCO World Heritage cathedral of St. Mary, famous for the Bernward bronze doors, the bronze Christ column and the thousand-year-old rose bush in its courtyard.
Hildesheim Cathedral (St. Mary's Cathedral) was begun in the 9th century. In 1985 it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with St. Michael's Church. It was nearly destroyed during WWII, rebuilt after the war, and fully restored in 2014. Its greatest treasure is the Bernward bronze doors, cast around 1015, whose reliefs tell the story of Creation and the life of Christ. Inside are also the bronze Christ column, the 11th-century Hezilo chandelier and a 13th-century bronze baptismal font. On the wall of the cloister courtyard, the "Thousand-Year-Old Rose Bush" sprouted again from its roots after the 1945 bombing, and it blooms in May and June. A treasury museum is attached (admission fee). It is about 25–30 minutes from Hanover by regional train and about 15 minutes' walk from the station.
Opening hours
About 10:00 am–5:30 pm (no visits during services); Treasury Museum closed Mon
Nearby sights
- St. Michael's Church, Hildesheim
- Hildesheim Market Square & Knochenhaueramtshaus
- Marienburg Castle
- Eilenriede
- Maschsee
- Hanover Adventure Zoo
- Sprengel Museum
- Lower Saxony State Museum