Hannover - Marktkirche

With more than 500.000 inhabitants Hannover is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony.

Hannover was founded in medieval times on the east bank of the River Leine. It was a small village of ferrymen and fishermen. It became a comparatively large town in the 13th century, receiving town privileges in 1241, owing to its position at a natural crossroads. It was connected to the Hanseatic League city of Bremen by the Leine and was situated north-west of the Harz mountains so that east-west traffic passed through it.

In the 14th century the main churches of Hanover were built, as well as a city wall with three city gates. Between 1714 and 1837 three kings of Great Britain were concurrently also Electoral Princes of Hanover.

As an important railway and road junction and production centre, Hannover was a major target for strategic bombing during World War II. More than 90% of the city centre was destroyed in a total of 88 bombing raids. So today Hannover lacks it´s medieval heart. Only a few buildings - like this one- got rebuilt and restored.

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The Gothic Marktkirche ( Marktkirche St. Georgii et Jacobi) replaced an older Romanesque church, which foundations were found during an excavation in 1952.

An appeal to the citizens for donations to build the church dates back to 1344, and work began on the foundations of the tower in 1347. Around 1360 the church was consecrated. In 1368, the construction of the church tower was interrupted due to times of emergency and plague and the resulting lack of money.


From 1852 to 1855, the interior of the church was restored. During the air raids on Hannover during WWII, the church was destroyed except for the outer walls and the columns. Reconstruction took place in 1946-1952.

The altar was originally a double-wing altar. It was created around 1480, but was moved to another church in 1663 when the Baroque altar (donated by Johann Duve)(see the fountain) was installed. From there it was transferred to the Guelph Museum in 1856 and therefore it remained undestroyed during the war (except for the outer wings) and has been back in the Marktkirche since 1952.

When the wings are open, the Passion of Jesus can be seen in 21 scenes carved from limewood, based on graphic models by Martin Schongauer