Comprehensive information and links about Germany Hildesheim

Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 25 km southeast of Hannover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small affluent of the Leine river. Population: 103,738 (2002).

It is accessed by the Autobahn A7 linking Kassel, Göttingen and Hanover and routes 1, 6, 243 and 494

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History

The town became the seat of the Bishopric of Hildesheim in 815. For four centuries the clergy ruled Hildesheim, before a town hall was built and the citizens gained some influence. In 1367 Hildesheim became a member of the Hanseatic League.

The city was heavily damaged by air raids in 1945. The centre, which had retained its medieval character until then, ceased to exist. It was rebuilt in a completely different , and concrete houses took the place of the destroyed buildings. In the late 1970s the reconstruction of the historic centre began: The concrete buildings were torn down and replaced by copies of the old buildings.

Also in the 1970s, the University of Hildesheim was founded.

The cathedral of Hildesheim is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in the 9th century, but damaged in 1945; it was reconstructed soon after the war. A rose tree entwines itself around the apsis, claimed to have been planted simultaneously with the foundation of the church. It was also destroyed in 1945, but the roots survived and began to sprout anew. The roman St. Michael's Church build in 1010 to 1022 is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

), once considered the most beautiful market place in the world. It was reconstructed in 1984-1990 to its former splendor, after its destruction in the 1945 air raid. The more noteworthy building in the square are: (Butchers' Guild Hall), once known as the most beautiful and finest specimen of half-timbered building in the world. Destroyed in 1945, it was reconstructed from 1987 to 1989 according to original plans. The facade is sumptuously decorated with colorful paintings and German proverbs. Today the building houses a restaurant and the City Museum., a Late-Gothic 15th-century patrician house, which today houses a bookshop and the tourist information office. It suffered some damage during the World war II but was restored in 1952., a 16th-century patrician house, is characterized by its high, ornately carved storeys including their ledges with depictions of allegorical figures.Thousand-Year-Old Rosebush: 1,000 years old. That's the age the world's oldest living rose is thought to be. Today it continues to flourish on the wall of the Hildesheim Cathedral.The Romanesque Cathedral, with its ancient bronze doors (Bernward's door) (c. 1015). It is in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.St. Michael's Church (UNESCO World Heritage Site) - one of the most beautiful early romanic churches in Germany and a unique example of ottonic architecture.The Andreaskriche (St. Andrew's church), a 12th-century church with the highest church steeple of Lower Saxony.The Roemer-und-Pelizaeus-Museum, with significant collections from the ancient Egypt and Peru and spectacular special exhibitions organized every year.Rose Route: all other places of interest in Hildesheim: e.g. the charming medieval-appearing half-timbered houses and the old Jewish quarter. 15 km): a neo-gothic-romantic medieval fairy tale castle (owned by Prince Ernst August of Hanover and Princess Caroline of Monaco)

Economy and transportation

Notable multinational corporations - besides many strong medium-sized companies - in Hildesheim are Blaupunkt, Bosch, Krupp, Thyssen, Fairshild, Phoenix and Coca-Cola.

Hildesheim has a very good traffic infrastructure: it is a regional hub for interstate roads and railroad (high speed railroad station), is connected to the motorway (Autobahn), has a harbor at the artificial waterway Mittellandkanal and an airport.

The twins Wolfgang and Christoph Lauenstein: Winner of the Academy Awards in 1989 for their movie Balance