Hildesheim

Hildesheim
Hilmessen / Hilmssen (Low German)
Location of Hildesheim within Hildesheim district
Location of Hildesheim
Hildesheim
Hildesheim
Coordinates: 52°09′N 09°57′E / 52.150°N 9.950°E / 52.150; 9.950
CountryGermany
StateLower Saxony
DistrictHildesheim
Government
 • Lord mayor (2021–26) Ingo Meyer (Ind.)
Area
 • Total
92.29 km2 (35.63 sq mi)
Elevation
81 m (266 ft)
Population
 (2024-12-31)
 • Total
98,510
 • Density1,067/km2 (2,765/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
31134–31141
Dialling codes05121
Vehicle registrationHI, ALF
Websitewww.hildesheim.de
St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ottonian architecture in St. Michael's Church
Interactive map of St Mary's Cathedral and St Michael's Church at Hildesheim
CriteriaCultural: i, ii, iii
Reference187
Inscription1987 (11th Session)
Area0.58 ha
Buffer zone157.68 ha

Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, north-central Germany. With a population of over 100,000, it is located southeast of Hanover on the Innerste river, a tributary of the Leine.

The first settlement was created in 815 by Emperor Louis the Pious, who established the Diocese of Hildesheim. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and in 2015 the city and diocese celebrated their 1200th anniversary.