St. Martini

St. Martini is a Gothic church in Hildesheim distinguished by its high walls and stone vaults. The building retains its original exterior walls and tower, displaying the medieval religious architecture characteristic of the region.

The structure was built around 1240 as a Franciscan monastery church and was converted in 1542 to serve as a parish church after St. John's Church was destroyed. This shift marked a major change in the religious functions within the city during the Reformation.

The building now serves as part of the Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum, merging religious heritage with present-day cultural activities in the city center. Visitors can observe how a historic sacred space has been adapted for contemporary use.

The original exterior walls and tower allow visitors to view the medieval sacred architecture from different angles around the building. Since it is part of a museum, visitors should check the museum's access conditions and timing before planning a visit.

The lower Portiuncula Chapel connects directly to the church and may have served as a mortuary during medieval times. This connection reveals practical aspects of monastic life in the Middle Ages that visitors often overlook.