Aegidienkirche (Aegidia Church), Hanover

Aegidienkirche (Aegidia Church), Hanover (must see)

The Gothic-style Aegidien Church was built in 1347. It sits on the location of a 12th-century Romanesque church. Hanover's 16th century Reformation began in Aegidiean Church. In the early 1700s, a Baroque facade was added to the church's steeple. In 1826, Georg Ludwig Friedrich Laves remodeled the church's interior.

In 1943, the church was destroyed by World War II bombs. The church was left in ruins with only its outer walls intact. The church was not rebuilt after the war, rather it today functions as a war memorial. In 1959, Kurt Lehmann designed and installed a monumental sculpture called Humility.

The outer walls feature many Baroque epitaphs, including one dedicated to Susanna Magdalena Oldekop, who died as a child in 1648.

A relief known as the Siebenmannenstein shows seven praying men who allegedly sacrificed themselves to save the town. The men are known as "Hannover's Spartans," who died during an attack on Dohren Tower in 1480. The Siebenmannenstein relief is a copy. The original can be seen in the Hannover Historical Museum.

The contemplative Schattenlinie artwork features a white stone line that capture's the church's shadow. This artwork is a symbol of life and death, and of light and shadows.

Hiroshima, Japan, is Hanover's sister city. Hiroshima donated a peace bell to Hanover, and it is now located in the Aegidien Church's tower. It is rung every year on Hiroshima Day which is August 6th.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Hanover. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Aegidienkirche (Aegidia Church) on Map

Sight Name: Aegidienkirche (Aegidia Church)
Sight Location: Hanover, Germany (See walking tours in Hanover)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Hanover, Germany

Create Your Own Walk in Hanover

Create Your Own Walk in Hanover

Creating your own self-guided walk in Hanover is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Hannover's Historical Churches Walking Tour

Hannover's Historical Churches Walking Tour

Hannover, Germany, boasts a great deal of history that is beautifully reflected in its ancient churches. A good number of them were built as far back as the 14th century. Despite the passage of time, today these architectural marvels remain largely intact, standing as a testament to Hannover's cultural and religious heritage.

One such is the Aegidia Church (Aegidienkirche). Originally...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Shopping Areas in Hannover

Shopping Areas in Hannover

Hannover is ideally suited for shopping – replete with wonderful markets and elegant boutiques fit to satisfy most shoppers. All the world's top brands are packed here within easily accessible areas. Only a few cities in Germany can offer such a high density of shopping opportunities within just a few hundred meters of each other.

Subject to your interest, you can find here what you need...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
Hanover Introduction Walking Tour

Hanover Introduction Walking Tour

Hanover began in medieval times as a small village of fishermen on the banks of the River Leine. By the 13th century, it was a large town by the day's standards. The name, initially "Honovere," likely meant "high river bank".

The town's location is a natural crossroads in the region, with the river providing navigable routes and its location on the North German...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Architectural Jewels

Architectural Jewels

Even though some may find Hannover rather new looking, the city in fact has a long and eventful history. As a crucial transportation hub, Hannover couldn’t escape Allied bombing during World War II; what used to be a grand city was turned into the rubble – with 90% of the local buildings destroyed. Yet, despite the bombing and ensued reconstruction, many pre-war architectural gems have...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles