A Very Hot Day in Hildesheim.

The Tempelhaus, left, is a 14th century hereditary patrician house, and now houses the tourist information centre. To the right is the Wedekindhaus, another patrician house.  

 

Hildesheim stands in Lower Saxony on the banks of the River Innerste.  The historic market place was once considered to be one of the most beautiful market places in the world.  It was destroyed in an air raid in March 1945, and was restored to its former glory from 1984-1990.

The Town Hall, erected in the 13th cent in Gothis style.  It was partly destroyed in 1945, and was rebuilt and reopened in 1954.

 

Hildesheim, one of the oldest cities in Northern Germany, was the sear of the Bishopric of Hildesheim in 815, and may have been founded when the bishop moved from the town of Elze to the ford on the River Innerste, which was an important market place on the Hellweg trade route.

 

A settlement around the cathedral quickly developed and was given market rights by Kind Otto lll in 983.

 

The Butcher's Guild Hall.

 

This fine half-timbered building was originally built in 1529 but destroyed in 1945.  It was reconstructed from 1987-1989 according to the original plans and from old photographs and paintings.  The façade is beautifully decorated with colourful paintings and German proverbs.  The building now houses the city museum and a restaurant.

 

The bombing on 22nd March 1945 had little military significance, and was part of the Area Bombing Directive to undermine the morale of the German people.  28.5% of the houses were completely destroyed, 44.7% damaged, and 26.8% remained undamaged.  The city centre, which until 1945 had maintained it medieval character, was completely levelled.

 

The Romanesque Hildesheim Museum.

 

The church was built in the 9th century, and has been reconstructed since WW2.  It was listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.   The "Thousand-Year Rose" is a reputedly 1,000 year old dog rose bush, allegedly the world's oldest living rose.  It continues to flourish on the wall of the cathedral's apse.

 

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Looking into the cathedral crypt with its medieval wrought iron gates.

St Michael's, an early Romanesque church and a unique example of Ottonian architecture.  It was buildt from 1010 to 1022, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

 

 

 The Organist in St Michael´s practising his works.

 

As we entered the church, the organist was practicing various pieces, many of which I did not recognise.  As we walked past him, I mentioned to H how nice it would be if he played some music by JS Bach.  Lo and behold, within the next few minutes he started playing the Great Fugue in C Minor.  That moment was certainly one of the highlights of a very hot day.