Centred around a medieval old town, Goslar is a historic settlement on the slopes of the Harz mountains. It’s famed for its centuries-old mines, which have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, alongside the mural-adorned halls and churches of the Imperial Palace of Goslar.

Things to do

Get lost in the charming Old Town of Goslar, which is clustered with half-timbered buildings that date from the glory years of the Rammelsberg mines. Admire the ornate Gothic windows of the 16th-century Kemenate Röver and the mythical figures that decorate the Brustruch, then visit the mural-adorned Hall of Homage within the Goslarer Rathaus.

No visit to Goslar is complete without exploring the Rammelsberg Mining Museum, which is home to Europe’s oldest subterranean mine chamber, the 13th-century Feuergezähe. See the impressive wooden water wheels lining the narrow shaft of the 200-year-old Roeder Gallery and ride the mine train through the Richt Shaft to see modern mining at work.

Nestled at the foot of the Rammelsberg is the Imperial Palace of Goslar, which served as a residence for the Holy Roman Emperors of the Salian dynasty. Dating from the 11th century, the double-storey Kaiserhaus was the largest secular building of its time and is now connected via a 19th-century arcade to the Chapel of St. Ulrich. Highlights of the complex include the ornate murals of the Reichsaal and the tomb of Emperor Henry III.

Getting around

Goslar is just over an hour’s drive from Hanover and Hanover Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular trains connect from towns and cities across Lower Saxony to the Goslar railway station and buses travel throughout Goslar. The centre of Goslar is compact enough to explore on foot.