This old imperial city on the northern fringes of the Harz owed its origin in the 10th C. to the discovery of a rich vein of silver on the Rammelsberg, and as a free imperial city it reached its peak of power and prosperity in the early 16th century. It still preserves most of the old town walls built at that time, with their massive gates and towers, its medieval churches, the Kaiserpfalz (imperial palace) and many handsome half-timbered buildings - an attractive townscape which survived the Second World War unscathed.
Towards the south of Goslar's old town, in the large square called Kaiserbleek, is the Kaiserpfalz, the oldest surviving Romanesque palace in Germany, built in the reign of Emperor Henry III (1017-56). The 47 m/154ft long Reichssaal (Imperial Hall) has wall paintings (1879-97) by Hermann Wislicenus. In St Ulrich's Chapel is Henry's tomb, with his heart in a casket in the base.
The Imperial Palace, Kaiserpfalz, in Goslar.
Address: Goslar Kaiserpfalz, Stadt Goslar Kaiserbleek 6, D-38640 Goslar, Germany
To the east of the Kaiserpfalz in Goslar is the Domkapelle (c. 1150), originally the porch of Goslar Cathedral, which was demolished in 1820-22. It contains the imperial throne with its surrounding stone screens (11th C.).
A little way north of Goslar's Domkapelle, on the Hoher Weg, are the Doll and Musical Instrument Museum (Puppen- und Musikinstrumente-Museum) and the Grosses Heiliges Kreuz, an old religious house (founded as the Hospital of St John in 1254), with an exhibition of arts and crafts.
Goslar's Worthstrasse leads to the Goslar Museum, with exhibits on the history of the town, geology and fauna of the Harz, mining, and works of art from the old cathedral.
The ancient silver mine is classifed a UNESCO heritage site.
3km/2mi northwest of Goslar is Riechenberg Monastery, a former house of Augustinian canons, with the ruins of the monastic church of St Mary (12th C.; crypt with ornamented columns and capitals).
Seesen turns back the clocks to the Renaissance times during the first weekend every September. Events include historical markets, pageants, jousting matches and musical concerts. The local residents participate by dressing in period costumes and displaying traditional food and crafts.
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Seesen - Schuttenfest, Germany
Market, Goslar
Imperial Palace, Goslar
Goslar
