Enjoy Your Final Route from Hildesheim to Magdeburg

Good morning. After enjoying a good night sleep and delicious breakfast, let’s hit the road. Park your car and continue your exploration walking.

Today your first destination is a Romanesque cathedral which was built in the 11th century. Originally, it was a chapel dedicated to the Holy Mother of God in 815. There is a legend associated with its founding. According to the story, Kaiser Ludwig den Frommen held a Mass during a hunting party at the site of the present cathedral. After the mass, he left the reliquary of St. Mary behind and when he went back to collect it, he couldn’t remove it. The priest thought this is a sign from the Holy Mother of God and the chapel was built.
Although it was destroyed during the Second World War, in the 1950s the building went through a restoration. This beautiful cathedral is a part of the same UNESCO Site as St Michael’s Church since 2014.
Let’s go inside and explore this unique place, which is richly furnished and decorated with beautiful artworks. The former Cathedral school is converted into the main entrance, giving access to the Cathedral, the Cathedral Museum, and the Rose.
Begin with the two-storey cloister, which consists of three wings. Here you find several side chapels. Check out the Gothic St. Anne’s Chapel which was built in 1321 for a commemoration celebration. Then the Romanesque Laurentius Chapel was erected in 1079 by Bishop Hezilo. As you walk in, the precise division of space is conspicuous. Other features are the low groin vault, the three aisles, and the beautiful pillars with chapters. Finally, visit the Steinberg Chapel which was built in 1405 and is named after Lipold von Steinberg who sponsored the construction. This is one of the few parts of the cathedral which contains the original Gothic materials.
As you are going through the cloister, you find the St. Anne’s Cemetery. The grave monuments will give you an insight into the cathedral's history and the work of previous canons and stonemasonry.
While you are lingering around, look at the Thousand-Year Rose Tree which you find via the lower cloisters. It is the oldest living rose on the planet. The tree was destroyed during the Second World War but it was regrown from the debris.
Continue with the west portal, where you find the famous Bernard Doors. They are a pair of 11th-century Romanesque and Ottonian bronze doors which features scenes from the bible. The creator used the lost wax process.
Finally, visit the crypt which dates to 1061. Here, you find the shrine of the local saint Godehard from the 12th century. Then go to see the impressive Ottonian Bernward column which was created in the 1000s. Finally, discover the bronze baptismal font which is decorated with images featuring the baptism of Jesus and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea in the 13th century.
Opening hours Mariendom Monday to Friday: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm Saturday: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday: 12:00 am to 5:30 pm
Foyer Monday to Saturday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
On 24 and 31 December, the cathedral foyer is closed.

When finished with your tour of the Cathedral, go to the upper cloister. Here, you find the museum and its Hildesheim Cathedral Treasury, which forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It exhibits the world’s finest collections of a millennium of liturgical art such as sculptures, books, paintings, vestments, vessels, and reliquaries. 
Other highlights are the evangeliary book containing 232 parchment pages and a carved oak cover, the Bernward Gospels from the 11th century, and the Rich Bernward Gospels.
Don’t forget to check out the Cross of Bernward which is made from gold and decorated with crystals, pearls, and gemstones.
Immerse yourself in the history of the Cathedral and enjoy the beauty of these unique treasures.
Opening hours Tuesday to Sunday – 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday – closed
The Cathedral Museum is closed on the 24th December and 31st December.

It is time for a delicious food. Let`s visit this restaurant in the former bishop’s mill. It offers a wide range of dishes from the regional cuisine. Enjoy your lunch and the magnificent view.
Opening Hours Restaurant Monday Closed Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm Sunday 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Kitchen Monday Closed Tuesday – Saturday 11:30 am – 2:00 pm & 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm Sunday 11:30 am – 2:00 pm

The next visiting place is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The St. Michael’s Church was built in Ottonian style in the early 11th century by Bishop Bernward.
As you walk in, you find an unusual layout as well as clear geometric shapes. It has two choirs as well as transepts which are decorated with one central square tower and two circular ones.
Step in the life of the monks while you are discovering this beautiful church. Admire the unique painted wooden ceiling from the 13th century, which features the Tree of Jesse (Christ’s family tree). Discover the Ottonian designed columns with alternating patterns and cubic capitals. Explore the 12th century choir screen which is decorated with ornamental patterns, mythical figures, and angels. Finally, check out the bronze doors, which a great example of the impressive works of casting art from 1020.
Opening Hours Monday to Saturday: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm Sunday and public holidays: 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

After visiting St Michael’s Church, let`s walk back to the car and continue your journey to Braunschweig.

Your road trip now brings you to this historical gem, which is a beautiful group of buildings surrounded by an English landscaped park. Formally it was called the Richmond palace complex and once it was the summer residence of Duchess Augusta. It was built in a Baroque style between 1769 and 1774.
Immerse yourself in the history of this place by walking along winding paths, groups of old trees and charming ponds to a small round temple.
As you are approaching the palace, you see that it is standing at an angle. There is a dome lantern sitting on the roof which provides light for the hall. The building itself is full of beautiful designs such as the pavilions, the rounded corners, and the French double wall pillars from the late baroque period. Let’s go and discover the castle inside, where you find rooms from the early classical style and beautiful paintings.
Castle tours can be booked through the tourist information here
Closed on Sundays

On your way home, take a break at this German restaurant. Enjoy your delicious dinner in this charming, vaulted cellar.
Opening Hours Monday to Sunday 11:30am – 2:30pm and 5:30pm – 10:00pm
If you want to reserve your table, you can do it only by phone 053 51 – 41777