Sightseeing in Goslar

Goslar has a lovely old town with many buildings dating from medieval times. It was once a rich city and maintained its beauty despite the centuries of economic decline since the Middle Ages. The most impressive area is around the Marktplatz, but the Kaiserpfalz is also interesting and for drivers an easy place to park and start a city tour.

Markt Area

Goslar has a magnificent, mostly original, Marktplatz (Market Square). Due to the economic decline of the town from the 16th century onwards, most buildings in the area kept their medieval character. At the center of the square is a 13th-century fountain with a copy of the Imperial Eagle (looking a bit like a fat hen). The lower basin of the fountain dates from the 12th century and was the largest bronze casting of the time. The upper basin and the eagle’s body is 100 years younger, while its crowned head is from the 18th century. In any event, the following are the highlights of the Marktplatz:

The Gothic Rathaus (Town Hall), Markt 1, was constructed from 1450 onwards. It has an arcaded gallery opening to the square. An external staircase leads to the staterooms, including the magnificent Huldigungssaal... See more

The Glockenspiel (Carillon) at Market Square was donated to the city by Preussag on June 7, 1968 to commemorate the thousand-year anniversary of the founding of the mines at Rammelsberg. The bells and figures play daily at 9 am, noon, 3, and 6 pm, illustrating four different tales from the mines’ and city’s past.

The most impressive building on the square is the red Gothic Kaiserworth. The building dates from 1494, with later Baroque additions. The stone figures of Hercules and Abantia are original, while the carved wooden ones are copies of originals dating from 1684. Note the grotesque Dukatenmännchen (Ducat Man) that symbolizes Goslar’s right to mint coins. The building currently houses a hotel and restaurant with a terrace facing the square.

Behind the Rathaus is the Marktkirche (Market Church). It dates partly from 1151, but was altered in the 14th and 15th century. It has two high towers of unequal height and contrasting styles. The interior has windows dating from ... See more

Goslar has a thousand half-timbered and stone houses. Some prime examples can be seen at Schuhhof and along the Münzstraße. Two famous early 16th-century buildings are across from the Marktkirche: the Brusttuch (1526) and the Bäckergildehaus (Baker’s Guild). At the crossing of Markt and Bäckerstraße are Renaissance houses with friezes.

Nearby, is the Siemenshaus, the ancestral home of the Siemens family that later founded the Siemens industrial giant. The wood timber and brick house is a rare sample of Baroque building artistry in... See more

The Mönchehaus Museum für Moderne Kunst (Modern Art), Monchestraße 3, exhibits modern art in a large house dating from 1528. The museum annually awards the Kaiserring prize and exhibits works from... See more

About 400 m (1,300 feet) north of the Marktplatz, but well worth the stroll, is the Neuwerkkirche. This former chapter church is a Romanesque basilica with parts dating from 1186. It has lovely octagonal Romanesque... See more

Due to its obvious riches, Goslar was envied by many and had to fortify itself. The town walls were two km (1.2 miles) long with 50 guard towers, some with walls eight m (26 feet) thick. The defenses were maintained up to the Thirty Years’ War. The largest remaining parts of the defenses are near the Kaiserpfalz.

Museum des Späten Mittelalters (Late Middle Ages Museum) has displays on medieval life, including armory, weapons used by peasants during the Peasants’ Revolt and, inevitably, implements of torture... See more

The best-preserved town gate is the mighty Breites Tor (Broad Gate). Originally built in the 13th century, it was enlarged around 1500. It was in reality a fortress functioning as a gateway and is as impressive now as it was 500 years ago.

Kaiserpfalz Area

The largest secular Romanesque building in Germany is the Kaiserpfalz (Imperial Palace), Kaiserbeek 6, originally built around 1015 by Heinrich II. It was favored by several Ottonian and Salian emperors – Henry III stayed here... See more

Nearby is the Domvorhalle of the opulent former Imperial cathedral. It was added in the 12th century to the church built by Heinrich III in 1050 and survived the demolition of the rest of the church in 1820. A copy of the Kaiserstuhl is kept here – the original is now in the museum of the Kaiserpfalz.

Hoher Weg leads from the Kaiserpfalz to the Marktplatz. En route is the Großes Heiliges Kreuz – a former almshouse dating from 1254. It now houses... See more

In the same area is the Goslarer Museum. It has displays of local arts, culture, and history from medieval times to the present. There are art treasures from the former Imperial Church, a large coin collection, and an early pharmacy... See more

Farther Afield

Goslar owed its riches and fame to the Rammelsberg mines, about a km south of the Kaiserpfalz. In 1992, parts of the mine were converted into the Museum und Besucherbergwerk Rammelsberg, which has exhibits on... See more