Hildesheim Between World Heritage and City History

For a stay in Hildesheim, you can choose from a range of experiences, including World Heritage sites, museums, half-timbered buildings and green spaces close to the city. The city’s history is visible in its distinctive buildings, while self-guided tours and a public guided tour lead to local attractions. If you are looking for a hotel, you can start by deciding whether culture, city walks or time in nature will shape your stay.

World Heritage, Architecture and Museums

St. Michael’s Church is part of Hildesheim’s UNESCO World Heritage and has had a significant influence on the development of medieval architecture. Its ceiling depicts the Tree of Jesse: the image is 27.6 metres long and 8.7 metres wide, and was created on 1,300 oak boards. The dimensions and the way the boards work together give this artwork a remarkable scale within the church.

The Hildesheim Cathedral Museum also brings art and history together. Its core collection consists of artworks from the cathedral treasury, most of which date from the 11th to the 13th centuries and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The museum also displays the Golden Madonna, one of the oldest medieval works of art. The Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum Hildesheim offers another perspective on collections: its focus is on the Egyptian pharaohs, with mummy masks, statues and other objects.

Hildesheim’s architectural history is also reflected in its variety of half-timbered buildings. The half-timbered ensemble around the historic Market Square was destroyed during the war and reconstructed in its original splendour. Dating from 1548, the Waffenschmiedehaus is the oldest surviving half-timbered house in Hildesheim. At 114.5 metres, the tower of St. Andrew’s Church is a prominent landmark and the tallest church tower in Lower Saxony. Climb its 364 steps for panoramic views across the city’s rooftops and out into the surrounding region.

City Tours and Getting Around

There are different ways to explore the sights. The Hildesheim Rose Route is a self-guided city walk that begins at the historic Market Square. Rose-shaped paving stones set into the streets point the way to local attractions. The public guided tour “Discover Hildesheim” also starts at the historic Market Square, takes in important sights and lasts two hours. You can choose between exploring on your own and joining a scheduled guided tour. Check the current tour dates in advance.

The Hildesheim app offers several city tours, provides point-to-point navigation and shares information and images about local attractions along the way. Check whether the app is available before your trip. You can also plan your route to St. Michael’s Church: it is close to the city centre and can be reached on foot or by public transport via the “Museum” or “Pfaffenstieg” stops. The Cathedral Museum is centrally located and easy to reach.

Ramparts and Green Urban Spaces

The historic ramparts offer a place to relax away from churches, museums and half-timbered buildings. They surround around two-thirds of Hildesheim’s city centre and are now a protected landscape area. The Liebesgrund is a shady section of the ramparts, characterised by densely spaced trees, near the Magdalenengarten. It provides a refuge for rare animal species; birds such as the kingfisher live in the moat.

With its varied attractions, Hildesheim is a great destination for stays planned around different interests: you can focus on art and architectural history, explore the city on a walking tour or set aside time for the ramparts.

Discover more destinations: Alfeld, Ahrbergen, Rheden, Sarstedt, Hoyershausen, Winzenburg, Elze, Diekholzen.

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