The ceiling of St. Michael’s Church is 27.6 metres long and 8.7 metres wide: Christ’s family tree unfolds across 1,300 oak boards. This impressive work leads to one of Hildesheim’s defining cultural landmarks. St. Michael’s is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and has had a major influence on the development of medieval architecture.

St. Michael’s and the museums

St. Michael’s Church is near the city centre. You can reach it on foot or by public transport via the “Museum” or “Pfaffenstieg” stops. The church offers a tangible architectural experience and is significant for medieval architecture.

The core collection at the Dommuseum Hildesheim consists of works of art from the cathedral treasury, most of which date from the 11th to the 13th century and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum also displays the Golden Madonna, one of the oldest works of art from the Middle Ages. It is centrally located and easy to reach.

The Roemer- und Pelizaeus-Museum Hildesheim offers a different collection focus: visitors can see mummy masks, statues and other objects from an important collection relating to the realm of the Egyptian pharaohs. Together, the museums offer different perspectives—from the cathedral treasury and medieval art to ancient Egyptian objects. You can use these themes to help choose which cultural sites to visit.

Half-timbered houses: preserved and reconstructed

The Waffenschmiedehaus, built in 1548, is the oldest surviving half-timbered house in Hildesheim. The half-timbered ensemble on the historic market square was destroyed in the war and reconstructed to its original beauty. These examples tell two different stories of Hildesheim’s half-timbered architecture: an individual house that survived and an ensemble that was rebuilt.

A city walk or views from above

The Hildesheim Rose Route is a self-guided city walk that starts at the historic market square. Rose-shaped paving stones set into the streets point out sights. The public “Hildesheim for Beginners” city tour also starts at the historic market square and takes two hours, visiting important sights. You can choose between a self-guided walk and a tour with a set duration. Check current route details and tour dates in advance.

The Hildesheim app offers several city tours, provides turn-by-turn navigation and shares information and images about sights along the way. Check whether the app is available before your visit. Another option for views across the city is St. Andrew’s Church tower: climb its 364 steps for a panoramic view over Hildesheim’s rooftops and the surrounding region. The 114.5-metre-high tower is a distinctive city landmark and the tallest church tower in Lower Saxony.

Ramparts and nature in the city

The historic ramparts encircle around two-thirds of Hildesheim’s city centre and now serve as a protected landscape area for recreation. They offer a different focus from churches, museums and half-timbered houses. Liebesgrund is a shaded section of the ramparts with densely growing trees, near Magdalenengarten. It provides a refuge for rare animal species; waterbirds such as the kingfisher live in the moat. The information about the ramparts and Liebesgrund offers different ways to combine cultural sites and landscapes during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Elze, Wittenburg, Harsum, Holle, Burgstemmen, Sarstedt, Bad Salzdetfurth, Brüggen

Go to the main travel overview: Hildesheim.