Hanover’s oldest parish church is also one of the city’s most famous landmarks. The tower of the Marktkirche in Hanover rises strikingly in the old town.
As early as 1125, a church was built on the site where the Marktkirche in Hanover stands today. The foundations of this building were discovered during excavations in 1952. The patron saints of the church are St. James (patron saint of pilgrims and merchants) and St. George (known as the dragon slayer).
Around 1344, the church must have become too small. With the help of appeals for donations, the community wanted to build a new church. The foundations for the church tower were laid first. Once the old church had been demolished, work began on the new building. This was consecrated in 1360. However, the tower had not yet been completed at this time. There was simply not enough money and so the congregation had to make do with a smaller solution.
Many years later, from 1852, Ludwig Droste restored the nave. It was repainted and refurnished.
At this time, the Duve altar disappeared from the church and has not been found again to this day.
During the air raids in the Second World War, the Marktkirche was destroyed down to the outer walls and pillars. Part of the roof structure was preserved and reconstruction began soon after the war.
A tour around the church
The church is over 61 meters long and around 26.60 meters wide. The tower, including its weathercock, rises 98 meters into the air.
It is striking that the Marktkirche in Hanover was predominantly built of red brick. However, some areas are made of sandstone, such as the west portal. Today, the church is one of the great buildings of North German Brick Gothic architecture.
The main entrance to the church is the so-called west portal. Here there is an impressive door with various reliefs designed by Gerhardt Marcks. When I take a closer look at the individual pictures on the door, I realize that not only biblical scenes are depicted here.
The picture shows tanks, gallows, piles of corpses and burning houses, which I find completely atypical for a church door. The risen Christ stands above them in the uppermost field. I’m impressed by the door, but I’m not sure whether I really like it.
I don’t see much exterior decoration on the church. Above the west portal are sculptures of the patron saints of the Marktkirche in Hanover. I discover two sundials on the south side. The one on the right dates back to 1555 and the one on the left shows the times of prayer. It is thought to date from the time the church was built, making it the oldest sundial in the city.
The church tower
I find the church tower of the Marktkirche in Hanover particularly interesting. The weathercock has been replaced several times and today reliably indicates the wind direction.
If you look a little deeper, you can see signs on three of the tower’s gable triangles that I have never seen on a church tower before.
On the east side is an inverted pentagram, a so-called Drudenfuß. The pentagram has five points. There are two basic types of orientation: with one point upwards or with one point downwards. The pentagram with its golden ratio probably characterizes many a church building. One Christian interpretation of the five corners is the five wounds of Jesus Christ. However, there are also interpretations that say that the five corners symbolize the spirit and the four elements of fire, water, earth and air; or also ether and the four cardinal points north, south, west and east. I don’t know what the master builders in Hanover wanted to express.
A hexagram, a so-called shield of David, can be seen on the north and south sides. A hexagram is a six-pointed star formed from two interwoven equilateral triangles.
There are also various meanings for this symbol: As a Gnostic symbol, it symbolizes the deification of man. It could also represent the symbol of protection against demons and fire. Rather unlikely, but my favorite, the guild symbol of brewers and maltsters is the so-called brewer’s star (often seen on taverns). However, I don’t think there is a brewer’s star on churches.
A look inside the Marktkirche in Hanover
As I step through the entrance portal, I find myself in a large, three-aisled hall church. The central nave is a good 8 meters wide and leads directly to the main choir with the altar.
The altar was created around 1480 and when it was replaced by a baroque altar in 1663, it was placed in the Aegidienkirche. From there it moved to the Guelph Museum and was placed in the rebuilt church after the Second World War. I really like the altarpiece. 21 carved pictures show scenes from the Passion of Jesus. If you look at the lower edge, you can see medallions of the heads of the prophets. When I take a closer look at the fourth head from the left, I actually discover a pair of glasses.
I find the three stained glass windows in the main choir particularly beautiful. The central choir window contains 30 panes. 20 of these windows date from the 14th century and show scenes of martyrs. The other windows were inserted later.
There is another window in the church that stands out due to its unique design. All the other windows are milky white and let daylight into the nave.
The other colorful window is almost a political issue. In 2017, former German Chancellor and Hanoverian Gerhard Schröder donated a new window to the church for the Marktkirche. It was designed by Markus Lüpertz, is 13 meters high and is called the Reformation Window. Due to a legal dispute with the artist’s heirs, it took a while for the court to reach a settlement and make the installation possible. In March 2022, the church council postponed the installation of the window indefinitely. The reason for this was Schröder’s stance on the events in Ukraine and his attitude towards the Russian ruler Putin. It was later decided to install the window after all. The inauguration took place on Reformation Day 2023.
I took a look at the window, of course. I think it’s almost too modern for the church, but all I heard around me were enthusiastic words about the design. In any case, the window and the story behind it will attract more visitors to the church.
Visitor information
Adress
Hanns-Lilje-Platz 2, 30159 Hannover
How to find us
How to find us
On foot
From the train station, you can reach the Marktkirche on foot in about 10 minutes via Bahnhofstraße via Kröpcke and Karmarschstraße.
By public transportation
Light rail: Line 3, 7 or 9 to ‘Markthalle/Landtag’
Opening hours
Opening hours
Monday – Friday: 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 5.30 pm
Sunday: 9.30 am – 6 pm
Entrance fees
Entrance fee
free
Accessibility
Accessibility
There is barrier-free access with an electric door opener at wheelchair height on the north side of the church.
There is a barrier-free toilet next to the parking lot on Hanns-Lilje-Platz.
Leave a Reply