The fabulously beautiful Lower Saxony is:
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unique ancient history
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the diversity of numerous natural parks
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a scattering of ancient castles and palaces
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contrast of medieval and modern.
It is hard to believe that only the Elbe River separates this marvellous land from the dynamic, energetic Hamburg. Among the many attractions and natural landscapes of the Saxon cities, there is one that is historically linked to the northern German capital - Hildesheim. This oldest city in Germany, like Hamburg, was founded by the same ruler, Louis the Pious. And it's a very beautiful story.
Rosebush as an era
This rose bush is considered the oldest in the world. If legend is to be believed, it is over 1,000 years old, just like the city itself. Over the centuries, the rose has been repeatedly researched by botanists, which has been documented. So, the story.
Charlemagne's son, Louis, while hunting got carried away chasing a deer and got lost. The call of the royal horn was not heard by the retinue - the king rode too far away. Having lost both game and his horse, the emperor had to spend the night in an unfamiliar place. Taking off from his neck the ark with a relic in honour of the Blessed Virgin, Louis the Pious hung it on a wild rose bush and, with a prayer to the Virgin, fell asleep under it. The next morning snow fell, covering everything around him. And only the bush with the ark was covered with rose blossoms. The king thought it was an omen. The retinue that arrived was instructed to erect a chapel of Our Lady next to the rose bush. In the same year 815, it gave rise to the bishopric and the city itself.
Today, a magnificent rose bush supports the wall of the apse of the Cathedral of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary. It has withstood even the bombing raids of the Second World War. The relic is known as the rose of Hildesheim and is considered a symbol of the city. Rose bushes adorn the town's streets and the courtyard of St Mary's Cathedral in abundance.
Honoured place in the World Heritage List
After air raids at the end of the war, the beautiful old Hildesheim was destroyed. It was only thanks to the love of the inhabitants for their hometown that it was meticulously restored down to the smallest detail.
A church history of 10 centuries
One of Germany's most beautiful examples of Romanesque church architecture dates back to 996. At first it was a chapel of the Holy Cross, erected on the initiative of Hildesheim Bishop Bernward. Over time it developed into a large Benedictine monastery. By the way, the founder of the church bequeathed his fortune to the monastery, was canonised and buried in the church crypt. It was the date of the consecration of the crypt (in 1015, on the day of St Michael) and determined the heavenly patron saint of the temple.
For almost 10 centuries in the history of the cathedral there have been many events:
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several fires and subsequent rebuilds
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collapses and reconstruction of certain parts
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during the Reformation, the church changed its status from Catholic to Evangelical-Lutheran
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in the early 19th century, it was closed and turned into a hospital for half a century
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in 1857, after restoration, the church was reopened for services
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in March 1945, British air raids almost completely destroyed the church building
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in 1947 rebuilding began - on medieval foundations
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1960 was the time when the reconstruction of St Michael's Church was finally completed.
Today, this Hildesheim church is one of 67 German churches where both Catholic and Protestant congregations hold services.
Nearly perfect architecture
Photo: JayWay. Source: wikipedia
A masterpiece of Romanesque architecture in the heart of Saxony could not have been overlooked by UNESCO. For its wide, impenetrable walls, prepared for a possible siege, the temple received and retained the name Castle of the Lord. The similarity with the castle is given not only by the massive walls, but also by the cylindrical turrets, and the whole noble appearance.
At the same time, all researchers note the absolute for that time symmetry of the structure. The church harmoniously combines the idea of "God's City" with geometric planning of space. Its western side is a mirror reflection of the eastern side, and the southern side is a mirror reflection of the northern side. The uniqueness of the building is not only in its unusual shape. The excellent acoustics inside is the result of subordination to certain numerical combinations, or rather compositions. The cathedral was built in accordance with the ancient system of harmony. Try to count the columns, windows and evaluate the division of the interior space. The result will stun you: it is a perfect structure.
This discovery is not the only one in the church. Inside, a 13th-century ceiling painting, the entire length of the central nave, awaits you with stunning beauty and information. This wooden ceiling depicting the genealogical tree of Jesus Christ survived the war. The fresco, a true treasure of early Romanesque painting, was simply taken apart and hidden with other valuable objects. Today it is the largest of Germany's authentic ceiling frescoes and one of the largest in the world.
The absolute symmetry of the interior is slightly broken by the 3 apses at the eastern end of the church. Inside the church impresses with its scale - its length is 70 metres and the height of the nave is 16 metres. The rounded front arches are painted in white and red, small windows above the arcades provide good lighting for the central nave with its absolutely smooth walls. All together this creates a sense of solemn calm.
A few words about another masterpiece honoured by UNESCO, the Christ Column. It is called Bernward's Column in honour of the creator of St Michael's Church. The column was cast by order of the bishop for this church, which it adorned for more than 500 years. Then came the Reformation and the bronze column was moved to St Mary's Cathedral, which managed to remain faithful to Catholicism. Now the skilful three-dimensional depictions of the life of Christ can be admired there.
