St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim

St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church are two early Romanesque religious buildings in Hildesheim, each with double choirs, transepts, and sturdy stone walls. Inside, they hold ornate bronze doors and wooden ceilings that form a central part of their interior design.

A bishop named Bernward commissioned these two churches around the year 1010, making Hildesheim a significant center for religious architecture. This construction shaped the city's identity as a place of medieval craftsmanship.

The bronze doors of St Mary's Cathedral display biblical scenes with remarkable detail, showing how medieval artisans mastered their craft. The wooden ceiling in St Michael's Church reveals similar careful workmanship that visitors can still admire today.

Both churches are open to visitors during regular hours and can be viewed from the inside. Check opening times beforehand, as they may change during special religious events or seasons.

St Michael's Church contains a large fresco called the Tree of Jesse, assembled from thousands of individual wooden pieces. This work demonstrates the skill of medieval carpenters who could create such intricate constructions.