Kreuzkirche (Holy Cross Church), Hanover

Kreuzkirche (Holy Cross Church), Hanover

The Holy Cross Church (Kreuzkirche), dating from 1284, is Hannover’s oldest parish church and is used for church services along with concerts and major events. Most of the construction that you see today is from around 1333 when it was extended according to an original Gothic design. It is well known for its decorative altar, which was painted by Lucas Cranach in 1537. In 1560, a large theological library was created in the basement of the church and increased space was made behind the vestry for the choir. There is an ornate Renaissance period pulpit that was added to the church in 1594.

A chapel in Baroque style was added to the church grounds in the 17th century and on the east side of the building, there is a stone emblem of the city of Hannover. One of the premier features of the church exterior is its large spire, reportedly damaged during a violent storm in 1630. In 1652, the spire was totally restored in Baroque style with funds provided by Johann Duve. Like much of the Old City, the Holy Cross Church sustained damage during bombing in World War II and was repaired between 1951-1961. The Holy Cross Church is one of the city’s most important churches and represents design elements of every major period – from medieval times to the 20th century.

Why You Should Visit:
Of course, not a Catholic church, or it would be decorated with gold from floor to ceiling, but still worth seeing if only to ascertain that a church is not meant for the accumulation of wealth.
Beautiful surroundings with great neighboring cafés, too!

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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Kreuzkirche (Holy Cross Church) on Map

Sight Name: Kreuzkirche (Holy Cross Church)
Sight Location: Hanover, Germany (See walking tours in Hanover)
Sight Type: Religious
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
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Subject to your interest, you can find here what you need...  view more

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Hanover Introduction Walking Tour

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

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