Hildesheim Cathedral

Hildesheim Cathedral
The Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary
Hildesheimer Dom
Northwest view of Hildesheim Cathedral
52°08′56″N 9°56′50″E / 52.14889°N 9.94722°E / 52.14889; 9.94722
Location	Hildesheim
Country	Germany
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	www.dom-hildesheim.de
History
Status	Active
Dedication	Assumption of Mary
Architecture
Functional status	Cathedral
Architectural type	basilica
Style	Romanesque (original) Gothic (side chapels and northern paradise) Baroque (crossing tower)
Groundbreaking	815 (Chapel of St. Mary) (815 (Chapel of St. Mary)) 872 (St. Mary's Cathedral) (872 (St. Mary's Cathedral))
Specifications
Length	80 m (262 ft 6 in)
Width	44 m (144 ft 4 in)
Height	20 m (65 ft 7 in)
Number of spires	1
Spire height	41 m (134 ft 6 in)
Bells	12
Tenor bell weight	8686kg
Administration
Diocese	Diocese of Hildesheim
UNESCO World Heritage Site
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	St Mary's Cathedral
Part of	St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim
Criteria	Cultural: (i), (ii), (iii)
Reference	187bis-001
Inscription	1985 (9th Session)
Extensions	2008
Area	0.58 ha (1.4 acres)
Buffer zone	157.68 ha (389.6 acres)

Hildesheim Cathedral (German: Hildesheimer Dom), officially the Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary (German: Hohe Domkirche St. Mariä Himmelfahrt) or simply St. Mary's Cathedral (German: Mariendom), is a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral in the city centre of Hildesheim in Lower Saxony, Germany, that serves as the seat of the Diocese of Hildesheim. The cathedral has been on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list since 1985, together with the nearby St. Michael's Church because of its unique art and outstanding Romanesque architecture.^[1]

The cathedral church was built between 1010 and 1020 in the Romanesque style. It follows a symmetrical plan with two apses, that is characteristic of Ottonian Romanesque architecture in Old Saxony. The cathedral's treasures include world-famous artworks, bronze works from the time of Bishop Bernward, Bernward Doors and Bernward Column, as well as two of the four notable Romanesque wheel chandeliers: the Hezilo chandelier and the Azelin chandelier.

After renovations and extensions in the 11th, 12th and 14th centuries, the cathedral was completely destroyed during an air raid on 22 March 1945 and rebuilt from 1950 to 1960. A thorough renovation of the cathedral began in 2010, including technical and conservation measures. Some of the cathedral's treasures have been shown further afield, including at an exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. The cathedral was reopened on 15 August 2014.