Historic market place

Destruction of the marketplace in a bombing raid on March 22nd.

Reconstruction of the historic facades

Historic buildings are scattered around the market square.

Hildesheim's "parlor"

In Hildesheim's "parlor," one magnificent half-timbered house stands next to another, the most famous being the Butchers' Guildhall: Hundreds of carved and painted works of art adorn the former guildhall. Every beam is unique. Another architectural highlight is the Temple House, dating from 1350, which now houses the tourist information office. There you'll learn that the entire half-timbered ensemble was destroyed in the war, but everything has been reconstructed to its original beauty. The same goes for the town hall, whose bells play "Frère Jacques" in the morning. Picture-perfect! Speaking of which, Hollywood actress Diane Kruger is a true Hildesheim native.

View of the Butchers' Guildhall and the town tavern on the historic market square of Hildesheim through an archway at the town hall — © Hildesheim Marketing GmbH, Photo Dagmar Schwelle

View of the Renaissance oriel window on the Temple House at the historic market square in Hildesheim through an archway of the town hall. — © Hildesheim Marketing GmbH, Photo Dagmar Schwelle

Illuminated temple house with Renaissance oriel window and Wedekind House on the historic market square of Hildesheim at dusk — © Hildesheim Marketing GmbH, Photo Dagmar Schwelle

View from the window of the Butchers' Guildhall and the Bakers' Guildhall on the historic market square with St. Andrew's Church tower in the background in sunshine — © Hildesheim Marketing GmbH, Photo Dagmar Schwelle

Houses with history

Town hall

The building on the east side of the market square was rebuilt in 1954 after being partially destroyed in World War II. The fanfare sounds daily at 12 noon, the carillon plays at 12 noon, 13 p.m., and 17 p.m., and also at 9 a.m. on market days.

City of Hildesheim

Temple House

The old patrician house in Hildesheim, which now houses the Hildesheim Tourist Information Office, was rebuilt in 1952 after being partially destroyed. The Renaissance oriel window, created in 1591, is a recognized masterpiece of Hildesheim stonemasonry.

Tourist information

Wedekind House
Lüntzelhaus
Roland House

Like the other buildings on the market square, the Wedekind House, the Lüntzel House, and the Roland House were completely destroyed in a bombing raid during the Second World War. Their facades were reconstructed as part of the construction of the new municipal savings bank. The Wedekind House, with its tall, richly carved stories and parapet panels featuring allegorical depictions, once again graces the Hildesheim market square. The same is true of the three-story Baroque facade of the Lüntzel House and the Gothic stepped gable of the Roland House. The latter had been converted into a convent in 1769, housing impoverished daughters of Protestant citizens.

Knochenhauer-Amtshaus

The half-timbered house on the west side of the market square was faithfully reconstructed between 1987 and 1989 and is popular with tourists from all over the world. The ground floor of the butchers' guildhall is now used as a restaurant.

Bakers' Guildhall

The bakers of Hildesheim built their first guildhall on the market square as early as 1451. The current form of the three-story timber-framed building dates back to 1825. Particularly striking are the open arcade facing Rathausstraße and the brick-filled timber framing. The bakers' guildhall now houses a café and restaurant.

City tavern,
Rococo house, Wollenweberguildehaus

The facades of the town tavern, the Rococo House, and the Woolen Weavers' Guildhall were also destroyed in the 1945 bombing raid. During the reconstruction of the market square, the half-timbered facades were rebuilt. Today, they adorn various parts of the Van der Valk Hotel Hildesheim. The hotel restaurant is located on the ground floor of the Woolen Weavers' Guildhall, and the hotel bar is in the town tavern.