When does the exhibition On Foot. Objects on Legs take place?

The exhibition is open on Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 11 AM to 5 PM at Hildesheim Cathedral Museum.

What is the admission fee?

The regular admission fee is 7 euros per person. Discounts are available for students, groups of ten or more, and holders of a disability or social pass.

Is there free admission?

Admission is free for visitors up to 25 years old. Free admission is also granted on the first Tuesday of the month.

Are there tours available for the exhibition?

Yes. Public tours take place on Saturdays at 11 AM and on holidays at 2 PM. Consultation hours will be offered on Sundays at 2 PM with brief introductions and individual discussions until the end of 2026.

Is the cathedral museum accessible for people with disabilities?

Yes. The cathedral museum and the cathedral foyer, including the restrooms, are accessible.

What programs are available for children and families?

The accompanying program includes discovery tours, tracking, family afternoons, and the Labor Present with opportunities for crafting, playing, resting, and reading.

On Foot: Discover Medieval Art from a Surprising Perspective

Name: On Foot. Objects on Legs
Start: 2026-10-11T11:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-11T17:00:00+02:00
Location: Dommuseum

On Foot: A New Perspective on Medieval Art

The exhibition On Foot. Objects on Legs at the Hildesheim Cathedral Museum focuses on a previously underappreciated detail of medieval art: the artistically designed feet of candelabra, lecterns, altarpieces, jugs, and baptismal fonts. On Sunday, October 11, 2026, a fascinating world between paws, claws, and dragons will open up.

When Art Stands on Paws, Claws, and Dragons

Between 1000 and 1300, numerous sacred and precious utility items were created in Central Europe, whose pedestal feet do much more than provide mere stability. They shape the spatial effect, give the objects a bodily presence, and raise art-historical questions about functionality, reception of antiquity, iconography, and animism.

The examination of the works leads from the visible forms to the meanings behind them. Animal shapes, mythical creatures, and organically appearing elements make medieval objects seem almost animated. It is precisely this combination of craftsmanship, symbolic imagery, and humorous diversity of forms that makes the art experience particularly immediate.

Masterpieces of the Hildesheim Cathedral Treasure

The curation combines outstanding works from the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hildesheim with high-quality loans. Among the exhibits is the Paderborn lectern, a significant masterpiece of medieval goldsmithing, as well as selected objects from the cathedral treasure. Famous artworks like the Bernward Door and the baptismal font in Hildesheim Cathedral are also included in the thematic context.

The exhibition makes it visible how closely material, form, and meaning are interconnected in medieval art. Goldsmithing, sacred furnishings, and figurative ornamentation do not appear as isolated categories, but as parts of a multifaceted aesthetic experience.

Exhibition Atmosphere and Cultural Education

The unusual approach invites visitors to rediscover familiar works. An attentive look down alters the perception of the entire object: feet carry, transform, enliven, and tell stories. This creates an exhibition atmosphere where scholarly research and sensory curiosity come together directly.

The accompanying Labor Present expands the exhibition with opportunities for play, rest, crafting, and reading. Children explore the artworks on a discovery tour and follow the tracks in reading the forms and meanings of the feet. Public tours and consultation hours deepen the themes of the exhibition and promote vibrant cultural education.

An Art Experience for the Curious of All Ages

Whether art-historically interested, family-oriented, or simply open to a surprising view of medieval art: The exhibition combines expertise with playful communication. Its strength lies in focusing on a small, supporting detail that suddenly changes the entire perception of a work of art.

Those who want to intensely experience the aesthetic of medieval objects will find a precisely curated and accessible exhibition at the Hildesheim Cathedral Museum. The visit on October 11, 2026, opens an insightful look at paws, claws, dragons, and the dynamic language of form in sacred art.