<P> The Cathedral was built in 872 under Bishop Altfrid as a cruciform three - aisled basilica with a two - story westwork . It is an example of Ottonian architecture , with alternating column support and semi circular apses completing the naves . The building suffered severe fire damage in 1046 . Bishop Azelin planned to erect a new , larger building further to the west and to extend the nave . His successor , Hezilo of Hildesheim , abandoned this plan and instead built on the old foundations , incorporating the surviving walls into the new building . Further important renovations occurred up to the end of the fourteenth century but did not deviate from the ground plan of Bishop Altfrid 's basilica . The north and south side chapels date from the gothic period and the tower above the crossing from the baroque period . In the nineteenth century , the original westwork was replaced by a Neo-Romanesque two - tower facade , which stood until 1945 . </P>
<P> The Cathedral was built in 872 under Bishop Altfrid as a cruciform three - aisled basilica with a two - story westwork . It is an example of Ottonian architecture , with alternating column support and semi circular apses completing the naves . The building suffered severe fire damage in 1046 . Bishop Azelin planned to erect a new , larger building further to the west and to extend the nave . His successor , Hezilo of Hildesheim , abandoned this plan and instead built on the old foundations , incorporating the surviving walls into the new building . Further important renovations occurred up to the end of the fourteenth century but did not deviate from the ground plan of Bishop Altfrid 's basilica . The north and south side chapels date from the gothic period and the tower above the crossing from the baroque period . In the nineteenth century , the original westwork was replaced by a Neo-Romanesque two - tower facade , which stood until 1945 . </P>
an important ottonian church was built at hildesheim under
an important ottonian church was built at hildesheim under
Bishop Altfrid
Bishop Altfrid