Place of interest

Church of the Holy Cross

The Kreuzkirche is located in the quaint Kreuzkirchenviertel neighborhood in the Old Town.

The Kreuzkirche in Hannover, also known as the St. Crucis Castle and City Church, is one of the city’s three Old Town churches. It was consecrated in 1333 and originally built as a single-nave Gothic hall church with cross vaults and a 5/8 choir. The church emerged from a split with the Marktkirche and was initially a parish of the Marktkirche congregation. In 1496–1497, St. Anne’s Chapel was added to the north side of the nave; it still houses several historical elements today, such as a stone bearing the city coat of arms of Hanover. Over the centuries, the Kreuzkirche underwent numerous renovations, including the raising of the tower in the Baroque style following a storm in 1630. In the 17th century, a magnificent burial chapel for Johann Duve was added to the south side of the choir. The interior of the church is simple but features significant works of art, including an altar painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder and a 15th-century bronze baptismal font. Historic tombstones inside the church, including Hanover’s oldest tomb slabs, bear witness to the building’s long history. The Kreuzkirche was destroyed during World War II but was rebuilt between 1959 and 1961. Today it is used for church services, concerts, and exhibitions and is an important cultural center in Hannover. Parts of the medieval crypts have been preserved and can be viewed as part of guided tours. Over time, the Kreuzkirche has evolved from a place of worship into a center for religious and cultural events. Since 1960, it has served as the castle and city church and is part of the Marktkirche parish. In recent decades, the parish has increasingly engaged the public through educational programs and guided tours.

You can find much more information about this and 35 other attractions, as well as interesting insider tips, in the *Roter Faden*.

Be sure to visit the Kreuzkirche website as well.