St. Michael's Church, Hildesheim

Above the nave of St. Michael's hangs a picture book made of wood: 1,300 oak planks, painted around 1200 with the family tree of Christ. Monumental ceiling painting of this age survives in only two other places in Europe. Yet the building itself is just as remarkable. Bishop Bernward began it in 1010 on a hill at the edge of Hildesheim's old town, with two choirs, two transepts and two groups of towers. Since 1985 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with Hildesheim Cathedral.

History

A stone block inscribed 1010, found in 1908 under a stair tower, is regarded as the foundation stone. Bernward chose the west crypt as his burial place and consecrated it in 1015; the whole church was consecrated by his successor Godehard in 1033. Until the Reformation it was a Benedictine abbey church. Today it is a Lutheran parish church, while the Catholic parish uses Bernward's crypt for weekday mass, making it one of Germany's few shared churches. In 1650 the east crossing tower collapsed and destroyed part of the ceiling. In March 1945 the church burned out after air raids, but the ceiling had been moved to safety beforehand. Rebuilding on the old walls began in 1947.

What to see

• Painted ceiling: 27.6 × 8.7 metres, painted on split rather than sawn planks. It shows the Tree of Jesse, from Adam and Eve to the kings of Israel and Mary. The last panel, lost in 1650, was replaced with Christ enthroned.
• Architecture: a strictly symmetrical plan with a group of towers at each end. In the nave, look for the rhythm of one pier and two columns, known as the Lower Saxon alternation because it first appeared here.
• Angel choir screen: stucco reliefs from 1194–1197 at the entrance to the crypt; the northern screen survives.
• Bernward's crypt: the bishop's sarcophagus lies beneath the west choir.
• Cloister: the medieval west wing survives north of the church.

Good to know

The bronze Column of Christ that once stood here is now in the cathedral, a few hundred metres away. The church also appears on a German €2 commemorative coin from 2014.

Opening hours and tours (as of October 2026)

• 1 April to 31 October: Monday to Saturday 10:00–18:00, Sundays and church holidays 12:00–18:00. Access is limited during services and concerts.
• Public tours: free every Saturday from April to October, no booking needed; meet in the south aisle.
• Group tours: by arrangement, €5 per person, minimum €60.

Tripto tip

There is no visitor parking at the church, so park in the centre and walk up to Michaelisplatz. Bring binoculars or use your camera zoom for the ceiling. Combine it with the cathedral and the Magdalenengarten next door; one hour is enough for the church itself.