Goslar[1] is a medieval town in Lower Saxony and serves as a regional hub to the wider Harz area. It lies at the foot of the Harz Mountains (highest elevation 3,744 feet). Goslar is situated some 150 Miles West of Berlin. The nearest cities are Brunswick, Hanover, and Magdeburg. Goslar is much older than Berlin and worth a visit. If you are interested in history, outdoor pursuits (especially hiking), tranquility and nature, then Goslar is the right spot for you.

Understand

Goslar was founded in 922 AD, although it is widely assumed that it has been settled since pre-Roman times. The town is famed for its magnificent gates and ramparts, the medieval Imperial Palace, Romanesque churches, its half timbered guild houses, the ancient Rammelsberg ore mine... and its witches, the last of which was burned at the stake in 1657 AD. In medieval times the city was a major producer of armouries and coins-- the raw ores for their manufacture came from the Rammelsberg mine just outside the city's walls.

History

What, Ram + Goat = Goslar?
Not quite...! According to the legend, Ramm, a knight to Henry's son Otto the Great, tied his horse to a tree, half way up the Rammelsberg, to continue hunting in the undergrowth. In anticipation of the return of its owner, the horse scraped with its hoof in the ground laying open a ledge of silver so rich that it took over a millennium to mine. Hence the mountain and mine were called the Rammelsberg, after Otto's knight Ramm. As the wife of knight Ramm was called Gosa, they named the town Goslar in her honor.

Emperors, Dukes, and Townsfolk
Essentially Goslar was a Free Imperial City, which was under direct control of the Emperor and there were no regional feudal overlords, who were in charge of the city until the end of the Thirty's Year War. Thus the citizens were largely left to their own devices, since the emperors had mostly better things to do than to sit in their Imperial Palace at Goslar. There were several other imperial palaces throughout the Holy Roman Empire, where the emperors held court. The only problem for the city's craftsmen was that their Free Imperial City ended right behind the city's walls. Unfortunately for them, the mine they depended upon, for the delivery of the ores, was immediately outside these very city walls. So they had to lease the rights to the mine from even such regional feudal overlords, the Dukes of Brunswick, who would have fancied it, if the city was theirs. This inevitably let to regular skirmishes between the Dukes and their men on the one side, and the burghers on the other side, which were not resolved until the end of the Thirty's Year War in 1642 AD with the Goslar Accord.

Goethe's Goslar Gothic Ghosts. With the onset of the Reformation in 1517 AD Goslar has escaped the interest of the emperor, and its riches declined so that Goethe, Germany's national polymath, writes in 1777 during his visit to Goslar: "Imperial City, which rots 'inside' and 'with' its privileges!"

UNESCO World Heritage Status

Goslar is the Harz region's festival town, culminating in the annual award of the "Imperial Ring"[2].

Get in

By plane

If you own a plane, a helicopter or even a flying saucer then you might wish to land at the club airport Salzgitter-Drütte [3] in the immediate vicinity (24 miles) of Goslar or the Brunswick-Wolfsburg Airport. Maybe try the disused military airfield at Goslar itself, but don't get yourselves into troubles over this.

By train

Goslar can best be accessed by regional trains from Hanover or Brunswick. In Hanover, Hildesheim and Göttingen there is access to Germany's ICE (Inter City Express) network. Getting to other cities might require changes along the way, often in Hildesheim, Salzgitter or Kreiensen.

By car

From Paris/London/Brussels/Cologne you take the autobahn A44/E331 to Kassel and take the A7/E45 in the direction Hamburg at the Kassel intersection. For further directions see below.

From Madrid/Rome/Vienna/Zurich/Munich/Frankfurt take the A7/E45 and leave it at either the interesection Seesen. Take the bundesstraße B248 and then the B82 to Goslar. If you wish to take the route via the Harz mountains, exit the A7/E45 at Northeim and take the B241 via Osterode, Clausthal-Zellerfeld to Goslar.

Coming from Moscow/Warsaw/Prague/Berlin, take the A2/E39 to the intersection Braunschweig and head via the A395 in the direction of Bad Harzburg. At Vienenburg you leave the A395 and take the B241 to Goslar.

Arriving from Amsterdam/Düsseldorf/Ruhr Basin take the A2/E39 to Hanover and at the Intersection Hanover leave the A2/E39 and take the A7/E45. For further directions, see below.

N.B. Goslar is a popular destination for bikers who enjoy riding their bikes through the Harz mountains.

By bus

Bus services to and from Goslar are relatively frequent and efficient. The regional bus operator Brunswick Regional Transport RBB [8] runs a website [9], which assists you with finding the relevant connection. In Goslar, their hub is in front of the central railway station. Here you also find a small travel centre, where staff can provide you with further advise. Essentially, the most frequent routes are between Goslar, Seesen, Harzburg-Spa, Salzgitter and Clausthal-Zellerfeld, with less frequent services to other destinations in the Upper Harz (lines 440, 450, 462, 831, 838, 841, 842, 850, 861, 879). The RegioBus lines are the express ones--the others are slow. The handy thing is that the RBB forms a partnership [10] with other regional public transport operators [11], so that you only have to buy a single transferable ticket. Thus, there is no need to purchase a new one every time you change your train or bus.

Bus[14] - The Goslar town council operates bus services within the municipal boundaries (lines 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 806) which run between the town centre and the borough of Oker, as well as Jürgenohl and Hahnenklee.

See

Castles/Buildings of Interest

Zwinger, Thomasstraße 2, ☎+49 5321 43140 (museum@goslarer-zwinger.de), [15]. March - October: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. 25. December - 10. January: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Guided-tours outside opening hours on appointment. The massive Zwinger Tower arrests the attention of those driving by. Pedestrians in the green belt park, as well, stop to gaze in awe. Built to protect the Rammelsberg and the east flank of the town up to the Broad Gate, it was one of the mightiest defences in Europe. Up to 1000 people could find safety in its four storeys in case of siege. Measuring 26 metres in diameter, the tower's lower walls are over 6 metres thick. Today it houses a private Museum of the Late Middle Ages where armour and weapons for knights and musketeers, instruments of torture as well as boors’ weapons from 1524 are on display. From the rooftop there is a good view across Goslar and toward the mountains. It also houses a restaurant and holiday flats.Adults: €2.50. Children, students: €1.60. Groups of 10 and more: €2.30.

Town Hall and Hall of Homage, Markt 7, ☎+49 5321 78060 (tourist-information@goslar.de), [16]. Mon - Fri 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.Sat, Sun, holidays 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.During the rest of the year the Hall of Homage can be visited during the guided city tour One Thousand Steps through the Old Town (daily 10 a.m.). Tickets at the Goslar Tourist Information.. Town Hall The Goslar Town Hall is, indeed, a building of the centuries: the east wing with the arcades opening onto the Market Square was begun in the middle of the 15th century and over the following 400 years the Town Hall was continually extended and enlarged. Today its overall impression is determined by the 16th century additions: a period of great prosperity for Goslar, which, as a member of Hanseatic League and a Free Imperial City, profited from the flourishing mining industry.The Town Hall still serves its original purpose, housing the Lord Mayor’s Office and the hall where the Town Council still discuss the weal of the town under the beautiful star-studded wooden ceiling. Hall of HomageThe Hall of Homage was set up as a council chamber between 1505 and 1520. It is a unique jewel of late Gothic interior decoration: its walls, the ceiling and even the window alcoves are completely covered with wood panel paintings. Each painting is an artwork of quality, contributing to the overwhelming complete ensemble. Richly carved wood decorations surround each painting. After many years of restoration the room is now protected by complex environmental protection devices so that this masterpiece can be preserved for future generations.Adults €3.50. Groups €2.50. Children/Youth €1.50..

St. Anne’s House, St. Annenhaus, ☎+49 5321 39870. Tue - Thur 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.. Just five minutes away from the Market Square, between the Glockengießer Straße and the Abzucht stream, is Goslar’s oldest unaltered half-timbered house. This almshouse was founded in 1488 and contains portions of a Romanesque stone “Kemenate” with a medieval kitchen, the large one-room hall, and a chapel. Of particular note is the Baroque altar by Jobst Heinrich Lessen and the artfully-worked Margarete Tapestry from the 15th century with 32 illustrations of the life of the martyred saint.

Houses of Worship

Claus Chapel, ☎+49 5321 22464 or 22566. Opening hours: Viewing and guided tours on request. This small Romanesque hall church from the 12th century was incorporated in the town fortifications and served as a gate chapel. From 1537 onwards it was the miners' hospice chapel, replacing their former church in the Bergdorp village, which had been destroyed. The miners passed through the Claus Gate going to and coming from mines and the chapel served for hundreds of years for prayer and church services. The Frankenberg Parish had the pulpit rights and obtained the chapel from the mine administration in 1969. In 1988 following the last shift in the mines the miners visited the chapel for the last time. Today it is used regularly by the Frankenberg parish congregation for prayer and church services.

Frankenberg Church, Frankenberger Plan 4, ☎+49 5321 22464 or 22566. April - October 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. November - March by appointment. Guided tours on request. The Frankenberg Church of St. Peter and Paul Church was built in the 12th century as a three-aisled, cruciform, pillared basilica with a flat ceiling. It stands on the highest point in the west of town. The steeples were part of the town wall. The existence of the church is documented for 1108 and beginning in 1234 it was also used for the nuns of the neighbouring St. Mary Magdalena Convent. Around 1240 the roof was vaulted, in the 14th and 15th centuries Gothic alterations of the choir and the southerly transept are recorded, in 1783 the badly deteriorated steeples were removed and the Baroque tower roof added, and in 1873/80 extensive restoration of the interior and exterior was carried out. The Frankenberg Church was the parish church of miners who lived in close proximity to the mines in the Frankenberg Quarter. The bell inscriptions and the Mining Thanksgiving festival on Sunday before Ash Wednesday are reminiscent of this.

Market Church St. Cosmas and Damian, Evangelisch-Lutherische Marktkirche in Goslar, Kaiserbleek 5, ☎+49 5321 22922, [17]. Daily. April to October: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. November to March: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Guided tours: Monday 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Short service: May to October Tues + Fri 11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. North Steeple opening hours - Daily 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.. The Goslar Market Church, first mentioned in 1151, was built as a smaller copy of the Imperial Church, which no longer exists, in the form of a triple-aisled, pillared basilica with two spires in the west. In the 14th and 15th centuries the choir was enlarged and an additional nave was added on both sides. Today it not only attracts attention through its central location on the Market Square but also because of its very high unmatched steeples, which assist in orientation and provide attractive views from various points in the Old Town. Of special note are the nine medieval stained glass windows from the first third of the 13th century, the old library, the bronze baptismal font from 1573, the remnant of a Late Gothic mural from around 1440 and the wooden Baroque altar from 1659. The North steeple of the Market Church has been made accessible for a view over the town.

Museums

World Cultural Heritage Rammelsberg Museum and Visitors' Mine Works, Bergtal 19, [18]. 09:00-18:00 daily. Different prices for different tours above and underground. Few buildings (baths, workshops, warehouses) and underground corridors accessible. Attractions include a ride in old miners' underground train and mining tools showing. Guides speak a few languages.

Goslar Museum, Königsstraße 1, ☎+49 5321 43394. November to March: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. April to October: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Mondays. In the prebendary house from 1514 extensive exhibits covering the history and art history of the town as well as the geology and mineralogy of the region can be viewed. Outstanding objects: the famed Krodo Altar (early 12th century), the Goslar Evangeliar (13th century), a collection of over 1000 coins bearing the Goslar mint stamp, the miners’ tankard from 1477 and the original Market Fountain eagle from the 14 th century. Further exhibits cover the life of everyday people over the last 10 centuries. A fascinating trip back in time.Admission for individuals: Adults: €4.00 (including Tin Figure Museum: €6.00); Children and young people: €2.00. Family card for both museums: €9.00..

Tin Figure Museum (Zinnfiguren Museum), Klapperhagen 1, ☎+49 5321 25889. November to March: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. April to October: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Mondays. In the beautiful historical building of „Lohmühle“ (early 16th century) – set in romantic Klapperhagen – you will find the Goslar-Museum of tin-figures. The museum was founded by a group of sponsors in 1985. Experts and connoisseurs of the scene call it the most beautiful museum of its kind in Germany. Main subject of interest is the representation of the 1000 years of history of mining as well as the historical events of the region in general. The tin-figures are use as means of demonstration of these events and situations. Through presentation of historical information in the form of diorama (it´s a scene), that depict fragments of characteristic situations, the visitor gets the chance to approach the cultural-historical facts and situations on a “personal” level. On two floors the presentation shows about 100 diorama and more than 10.000 hand painted tin-figures. Besides the possibility of looking at the tin-figures our museum offers the opportunity to get inside information about the practical part of making the figures at our workshop. Offering the opportunity to make as well as paint a figure by yourself is part of the main concept of the museum. Also for the collector of tin-figures there is a wide range of tin-figures for sale which are partly produced in our own workshop.Admission Adults: €4.00 (including Goslar Museum: € 6.00). Children and young people: €2.00 (€3.50). Family card for both museums: €9.00 (€12.50)..

Mönchehaus-Museum Goslar, Rosentorstraße 27, ☎+49 5321 29570 (info@moenchehaus.de), [19]. Tues. to Sat. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sun. 10 a.m. – 1p.m. Closed Mondays. The Mönchehaus Museum is a renowned museum of modern art. Works of artists of international acclaim, such as Joseph Beuys, Max Ernst, Georg Baselitz and Eduardo Chilida, are on display in the rooms of the citizen farmer’s house from 1528 and the adjoining half- timbered buildings, the stone- vaulted cellars and the sculpture garden. Changing exhibits of works of different artists can be viewed in the three storeys of the 1528 house. Every year the town of Goslar presents the internationally acclaimed art award, the "Kaiser Ring", and the accompanying exhibit of works of the recipient opens at the Mönchehaus.Adults €5.00. Children and young people €1.50. Admission for groups of 10 or more: adults €4.00. children and young people €1.00.

Do

Skiing, Hahnenklee-Bockswiese (a part of Goslar), [20]. On a high meadow there are two ski lifts and a cable car. There are also other resorts, i.e. Torfhaus [21] and Wurmberg [22] in the Harz Highlands, which offer skiing facilities up to grade 4/5 in a scale of 10.

Airfield at Bollrich, Segelflugabteilung Geschwister-Scholl-Ring 29, Bad Harzburg ((distance: approx. 2 km)), ☎+49 5322 8881 or +49 5321 22656 (info@bollrich.de), [27]. Motorized glider flights over the town of Goslar and the Harz Mountains are possible from the airfield just outside. Experienced pilots make the bird's-eye view of the beautiful town and its surroundings possible; filming and photographing are allowed. An unforgettable experience for sure!

Maltermeister Tower, Rammelsberger Str. 99 ((distance: approx. 3 km)), ☎+49 5321 4800 (fax: +49 5321 306669). The 14th century tower on the slope of the Rammelsberg above Goslar is the oldest above ground mining building of the nearby mine works. In 1578 it became the bell tower for the miners and in 1740 living quarters for the warden in charge of wood for the mines (the “Maltermeister”) were incorporated. Today it houses a restaurant which is very popular for outings. Many trails begin and end here.

Upper Harz Water Regal National Monument (Harzwasserwerke GmbH), Nikolaistraße 8, Hildesheim ((distance: approx. 15-30 km)), ☎+49 5121 4040 (hww@harzwasserwerke.de, fax: +49 5121 404220), [28]. The Upper Harz Water Regal is both an industrial monument and a beauty of nature. (A “regal” was a royal prerogative, in this case permitting the exploitation of water resources.) In part over 300 years old, the waterways include 70 lakes, long water courses, galleries and mechanical constructions which served the miners as a source of energy. Today hiking paths, educational trails and museums trace evidences of mining in the Harz.

Buy

Goslar is not only the perfect location for meetings but also provides various shopping facilities to let a convention day wind down with a pleasant shopping spree. Short distances and a centrally located pedestrian zone invite sauntering and shopping. A wide range of small exclusive stores provide the opportunity to find something unique. Combine your convention stay with a one-of-a-kind shopping experience.

Kunsthandwerk im Grossen Heiligen Kreuz, Hoher Weg 7, [30]. At the Hostice of the Great Holy Cross you have artisans and goldsmiths where you can find yourselves the right gifts & souvenirs to take home.

Odermark Factory Outlet, Odermarkplatz 1, ☎+49 5321 7080 (fax: +49 5321 708218), [31]. There is a factory outlet at the Odermark textile plant, where you might wish to purchase some formal men's wear off the shelf at half price.

Drink

There is plenty of night-life in the town, equally divided between the traditional German Kneipe Pubs and theme bars. Some clubs take fun-photos of their visitors. So if you do not wish to be photographed, tell them.

Tiffany's Club, Marktkirchhof 3, ☎+49 5321 22886 (info@tiffanys-club.de, fax: +49 5321 45232), [38]. Located in the town centre opposite the market church. Young visitors. Do not expect the latest music and fashion.

Heckies Pub, Stapelner St. 8, Bassgeige, ☎+49 5321 683886. To meet up with the locals. 1 mile south of the town centre.

Sleep

Campsites

Campingplatz Sennhütte, Clausthaler St. 28, ☎+49 5321 22498. Camping site in the vicinity of the town centre. Clean.

Campingplatz Am Kreuzeck, 2570 Kreuzeck 5, Hahnenklee, ☎+49 5325 238564 (kreuzeck@aol.com, fax: +49 5325 3392), [42]. Suited for caravans. ca. 250 places. High up in the Upper Harz in the village of Hahnenklee, ca. 5 miles to the South of Goslar. Quiet.

Budget

YHA Hostel Goslar (Jugendherberge Goslar), Rammelsberger St. 25, ☎+49 5321 22240 (jh-goslar@djh-hannover.de, fax: +49 5321 41376), [43]. The YHA hostel can be found at the southwestern edge of Goslar on a hill overlooking the town. Its slate roof and half timbered facade make the building instantly recognisable. Membership of the International Youth Hostel Association is required. There are 163 beds, each room has 2 - 8 beds and a washing facility. The rooms in the annex have 12 beds and are suited for visitors with disabilities.

Mid-range

There are more than 20 private pensions and room rentals as well as almost 100 holiday apartments catering to this price range in Goslar. It is best to contact the Tourist Information or see the official website [44] for details.

Burg, Zwinger, Thomasstraße 2, ☎+49 5322 554944 (http://www.zwinger.de, fax: +49 5322 554945). A real castle to sleep in! With a selection of beautiful rooms.Two people per room: €58, three people per room: €63, there are other options available.

Splurge

Hotel Kaiserworth****, Markt 3, ☎+49 5321 7090 (fax: +49 5321 709345), [48]. At the historical market place directly in the centre. Has also an excellent restaurant, the "Worth", and a confectionery with delicious cream cakes... yummy yummy!

Get out

Bad Harzburg - a small spa town nestled in the foothills on the northern edge of the Harz. It is named after a former imperial castle, the Harzburg, which used to stand proud on the heights above the town, but is now a ruin with just a few walls and ramparts remaining. The town itself caters largely for residents taking the "cure" as well as tourists - especially ramblers and cyclists - visiting the Harz. As a result, the centre is a pedestrian zone with small shops and timber-framed houses, surrounded by sprawling suburbs - a mix of impressive timber-framed residences and functional modern buildings. Bad Harzburg is a great base for exploring the northern Harz. There is an 80-year old cable car to the Harzburg above the town called the Harzbergbahn. Once on the top, there is a network of easy walking trails and numerous sights within striking distance including the Lynx Enclosure near the Rabenklippe crags and several outstanding viewing points over the surrounding area. (Only 12 minutes from Goslar).

Clausthal-Zellerfeld - in the Oberharz. It is the largest town of the Oberharz community with an altitude of 535m. It is great for winter activities as well as walking and mountain biking during the rest of the year. Clausthal has a well known University "Aula Academica". It has a picturesque low mountain range landscape with crystal clear waters in more than 60 ponds and flowering meadows. (20 minutes from Goslar).

Brunswick - (German: Braunschweig) is a city of around 250,000 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser. (40 minutes from Goslar).

Göttingen - a city in the southernmost part of the state of Lower Saxony, bordering Hesse and Thuringia. (1 hour from Goslar).

Hildesheim - the historical centre of Hildesheim consisted of over 1900 half-timbered buildings and was often called "Nuremberg of the north" up to the Second World War. During the war, 90% of the centre was destroyed; only a few lanes in the southern centre remained unchanged. Today the centre consists mainly of postwar buildings, 1950 to 1970. However, many historical monuments have been reconstructed. In this process, some of the changes of the last few centuries were removed and the original form of the buildings restored. Two church buildings were declared UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1985. (50 minutes from Goslar).

Hanover - capital of Lower Saxony. Visit the Herrenhausen Gardens, the Old Town Hall or Hanover Zoo. Follow the "red line" tourist trail and visit many of the historic sights. (1 1/2 hours from Goslar).

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!