Hildesheim

Hildesheim is a Hanseatic city in Lower Saxony that lies along the Innerste River near the Harz Mountains. Medieval churches, reconstructed townhouses, and old defensive walls shape the townscape, which was heavily altered by wartime damage in the 20th century.

Louis the Pious founded the bishopric in 815 and transformed the settlement into a religious center of Northern Germany. The city joined the Hanseatic League and experienced economic growth during the Middle Ages through trade and craft.

Half-timbered houses and narrow lanes fill the old town, rebuilt after the Second World War and now home to shops and cafés where locals gather. The market square hosts weekly markets and regional festivals, drawing residents who come to buy fresh produce and meet neighbors.

The town center is easy to explore on foot, as the main sites lie close together within walking distance. The main railway station connects the city to Hanover, Göttingen, and other destinations through regular train services.

The cathedral shelters a rosebush on the eastern apse that has been growing for over a thousand years and survived the destruction of the Second World War. The plant is considered the oldest living rose in the world and visitors often photograph it.

Location: Hildesheim

Elevation above the sea: 96 m

Shares border with: Harsum, Schellerten, Bad Salzdetfurth, Diekholzen, Despetal, Betheln, Nordstemmen, Giesen

Website: https://hildesheim.de

GPS coordinates: 52.15000,9.95000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 19:12