Hildesheim - Tempelhaus

Louis the Pious founded the bishopric of Hildesheim in 815. The settlement developed into a town and was granted market rights by King Otto III in 983. Craftsmen and merchants were attracted and the city developed into an important community. By 1167, Hildesheim was an almost completely walled market settlement.

At the beginning of the 13th century, Hildesheim had about 5,000 inhabitants, and when Hildesheim received its city charter in 1249, it was one of the largest cities in northern Germany. The clergy ruled Hildesheim for four centuries before a town hall was built and the citizens gained influence and independence. In 1367, Hildesheim became a member of the Hanseatic League. But what is now called Hildesheim was various small "suburbs". After centuries of (sometimes armed) disputes, it was not until the end of the 16th century that a union was created and subsequently at least the inner wall was taken down Old and New Town.
During the Thirty Years' War, Hildesheim was besieged and occupied several times. In 1813, after the Napoleonic Wars, the town became part of the Kingdom of Hanover, which was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia as a province after the Austro-Prussian War in 1866.

The air raids on Hildesheim in 1944/45 destroyed large parts of the city. Of the 1500 half-timbered houses, only 200 remained. 90 percent of the historic old town was destroyed in the firestorm.

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The Tempelhaus is a Gothic patrician house on the south side of the market square, built around 1350. In the 16th century, the house passed into the hands of the von Harlessem family, It remained with this family until 1805. The Renaissance bay window, created in 1591, shows in its parapet fields, in addition to other coats of arms of the von Harlessem family.

The devastating bombing on March 22, 1945, destroyed almost all the buildings on the market square of the old town, but the facade with the two attached turrets and the oriel remained largely undamaged. The Temple House was rebuilt as early as 1952.