UNESCO World Cultural Heritage

The bishopric and university city of Hildesheim is particularly well known for its churches and cultural monuments. The Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church have already been on the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage since 1985.

The Cathedral

UNESCO World Heritage objects in the Cathedral include the Bernwardian bronze castings – Christ’s Pillar (1020) and the double-wing bronze door (1015). The wings of the door, which are 4-72 m tall, depict stories from a medieval Bible, a unique document in the form of a large-scale Romanesque sculpture.

The Cathedral has been closed for renovations since January 2011. It will re-open in time for the city’s celebrations on Hildesheim’s 1200^th anniversary in August 2014.

www.domsanierung.de

Thousand-year-old rosebush

One of Hildesheim’s most famous tourist attractions is the “one-thousand-year-old rosebush” at the apses of the Cathedral. The legendary rosebush – a dog rose (Rosa Canina) – is proven to be several hundred years old at least and even survived the fire that destroyed the Cathedral in the last days of WWII. The “Rose Route” is a walking tour of the city, which takes visitors past all the most notable sights in the city today.

Even though the Cathedral is closed for renovations, it is still possible to view the “thousand-year-old rosebush”.

Opening hours: Tues. to Sat. 10 am to 5 pm,
closed for lunch from 12:30 to 1 pm.
Sun. 12 noon to 5 pm.

For more information, click here: 1.000jähriger Rosenstock

or contact tourist information Hildesheim.

St. Michael’s Church

The early Romanesque church (1010 to 1030) was reconstructed during the years from 1950 to 1957. The highlight in St. Michael’s Church is the painted wooden ceiling dating from the 12^th century, which depicts Jesus Christ’s lineage (theological family tree). It provides us with a fascinating impression of Romanesque monumental painting.

For more information, please contact the tourist information Hildesheim.