St. Mary's Cathedral and St.
Michael's Church at Hildesheim (1985)
Germany
St Michael's Church was built between 1010 and 1020 on a symmetrical plan with two apses that was characteristic of Ottonian Romanesque art in Old Saxony. Its interior, in particular the wooden ceiling and painted stucco-work, its famous bronze doors and the Bernward bronze column, are – together with the treasures of St Mary's Cathedral – of exceptional interest as examples of the Romanesque churches of the Holy Roman Empire.
|
Hildesheim is a city in northwestern Germany, in Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), at the base of the Harz Mountains, near
Hannover. In the early 9th century Hildesheim became the seat of a bishopric; in the early 11th century the bishop of
Hildesheim, Saint Bernward, made the city an important center of Romanesque art.
After it became a free city of the Holy Roman Empire in the 13th century, Hildesheim was accorded municipal rights (1249) and in the same period joined the Hanseatic League.
|
|
 |
 |
In spite of the fact that Germany has issued a large amount of stamps showing German World Heritage Sites, I have been unable to find any stamps depicting these churches, but have instead found two stamps, showing views of typical Hildesheim. The bishopric of Hildesheim was secularized in 1803 and was incorporated into the kingdom of Hannover in 1815. The city was badly damaged during World War II (1939-1945), but notable structures rebuilt after 1945 include St. Mary's Cathedral (begun 11th century) and Saint Michael's Church (11th century). |
Germany 1966. Trinititas Hospital in Hildesheim.
Germany 2001. City Hall in Hildesheim. Note the dual face value in both DM and Euro.
Sources and links:
Microsoft Encarta 2002.
St. Michaels Church (in German only)
Other World Heritage Sites in Germany (on this site). Inactive links are not described on stamps. Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, section Germany for further information about such sites.
Revised 13 okt 2006 |
|
