Hildesheim is a German city, located close to Hanover, Lower Saxony. Populated approximately 100  000 inhabitants, the principal activities are there the administration, the services and teaching. Hildesheim has a university and various schools. It is the residence of a catholic bishop.

Although destroyed to 90% during the Second world war, the historical center, rebuilt then, much of its old charm preserved. The Cathedral Sainte-Marie and the church Saint-Michel point out the time of the saint bishop Bernward (993-1022). Hildesheim, with all the area, was then the center of the dynasty of the emperors ottoniens which aspired to the restoration Roman Empire. Saint Bernward wanted to give to his residence, a village of some peasants and merchants with an empty cathedral, a face " impériale" worthy of this aspiration. He surrounded the episcopal buildings of an impressive wall (partially preserved), he made build Saint Michel, his " fortress of Dieu" , and it financed many works of art, in particular the bronze door and column in the cathedral with biblical representations of single quality.

During the the Middle Ages, Hildesheim lost its interregional importance, but the large Gothic church of Saint-Andrew and the half-timbered houses of the trade unions and the middle-class men of this time, preserved or rebuilt, with the historical market in the center, are remarkable.

Hildesheim is the birthplace of the corsairs Didrik Pining and Hans Pothorst (15th century) of which some think that they would have arrived at the Labrador twenty years before the first voyage of Colomb to America. The first was governor of Iceland of 1478 to 1490.

Twinnings

• , since 1965
• , seit 1983
• , seit 1997
• , since 1979
• since 1992, to see
• , since 2000
• , 1990
• cooperation agreement since 1988

References