Goslar: Half-Timbered Houses, Mining History and Art

Old Town and Collections

Those interested in art and history will find a range of points of interest at the Goslar Museum. On display is the famous Krodo Altar from the early 12th century, a masterpiece of medieval art. The coin collection also includes well over 1,000 coins minted in Goslar. The altar and coins offer different perspectives on the city’s past: one through a significant work of art, the other through an extensive collection of locally minted coins.

The town hall is also one of Goslar’s historic buildings. It was built between 1295 and 1326. For visitors who prefer to explore the city through stories and staged presentations, the carillon in the market square offers another approach: a procession of figures and mining melodies tell the story of mining at Rammelsberg. The tale stretches from the legendary discovery by the knight Ramm to modern times.

Mining History at Rammelsberg

The Rammelsberg Museum and Visitor Mine presents at least 3,000 years of ore mining at and inside Rammelsberg across four museum buildings. The subject is therefore not limited to a single historical period. Those who want to explore mining in greater depth can set this museum alongside a visit to the old town: both are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site recognised in 1992, but each focuses on different aspects.

The Mönchehaus Museum, with its changing exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, reveals further facets of Goslar’s museum culture. The Zwinger also houses a privately run museum of the late Middle Ages. Its exhibits include armour and equipment for knights and musketeers, instruments of torture, and weapons used by peasants in 1524. Travellers with varied interests can thus choose their own themes, from art, coins and altar collections to medieval armour.

Explore the City in Different Ways

A variety of guided city tours are offered in Goslar, bringing the city’s history to life. At the Imperial Palace, there are public tours of the Great Hall, as well as special, themed and school group tours. These different formats offer a practical starting point for planning your trip: you can consider whether you would rather discover Goslar on a city tour or focus on the Imperial Palace through a themed visit. For families, it may be helpful to decide together which stories and collections are of particular interest to the group.

A digital city tour complements these options with 360° views, interactive scenes and audio content. Its presentation differs from an in-person tour: rather than relying solely on storytelling, this format combines several digital elements. If you would like to discover the city in different ways, you can consider this tour as a way to explore it in its own right.

Historic City and Green Belt

Green spaces are also part of Goslar’s character, alongside its lanes and historic buildings. The former ramparts have been transformed into gardens and parks, and today form an idyllic green belt around the city. This means that Goslar’s historic architecture sits alongside a green urban landscape shaped by its former ramparts. It broadens the possible focus of a trip beyond museum visits and the city’s history.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Goslar, you can first consider what you would like your trip to focus on: the old town and its buildings, at least 3,000 years of mining history, art and collections, or different ways of exploring the city. If you are travelling with others, you can compare interests in advance and take them into account when planning your stay. Goslar offers specific themes and formats, without limiting your trip to a single landmark.

More destinations: Hahnenklee, Sankt Andreasberg, Vienenburg, Upper Harz, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Liebenburg, Seesen and Braunlage.

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