Goslar
Goslar: lieveable and loveable world cultural heritage
Goslar's history begins in 922 when Henry I, King of Saxony, established a hunting camp on the bank of a small creek named Gose. "Goslarie" resulted from the description of the camp, "Lager an der Gose", which lead to today's name of the town.
Goslar owes its historical importance to large silver ore deposits that were found in the Rammelsberg around 968 under the regime of of Emperor Otto I. At that time, only the nobility had the privilege to coin money from precious metal in order to fill their treasury; not surprisingly, the gentry promptly developed an interest in the Harz region. The emperor of Saxony, Henry II, built already around 1005 a small palace and invited to first Reich assemblies in Goslar. Under the Frank Conrad II the construction of today's Kaiserpfalz started and was finlally completed by Emperor Henry III.
From then on, German and European history was made here. The town became an imprtant administrative centre of the empire very quickly and the imperial palace the favourite domicile of the Frank emperors. For more than two centuries, almost all representatives of the nobility and the clergy met here regularly to make important decisions for the future of the empire. Today, this imperial palace is the largest and best maintained profane building north of the Alpes dating back to the Middle Ages.
Goslar, and especially the silver mines of the Rammelsberg, was the reason behind the power struggle between Emperor Frederick I of Hohenstaufen (Frederick Barbarossa) and the Guelph Duke Henry (the Lion).
In the meantime, the town had been put under the Emperor's personal protection. Still, over the course of the centuries, the Guelphs would try again and again to access the precious metals of this "reichsunmittelbare" town (self-govering city under the Kaiser). After the Reformation, they evenually succeeded.
The water problem accompanied the mining through the centuries and preluded repeatedly phases of demise. But the city fathers put their faith in progress. More mining tunnels are built in the mountains and serve to establish the enormous richness of the town. Popular parlance referred to Goslar as "Rome of the North". The town boasted not less than forty-seven churches, abbeys and chapels as well as a vigorous fortification with 186 defense towers which were surrounded by a multiple ring of fortification. Some of these can be seen still today, for example the "Dicke Zwinger" which was the most massive one with walls six metres thick. It served to protect the South of the town and the ore transports from the Rammelsberg. It is quite obvious why the town had to be guarded by such a complex fortification: As the classic example of a town of the flourishing middle classes, it is trading the ore products from the Rammelsberg all over the world and therefore has a lot to lose.
At the end of the 18th centuries the ore mining is suspended again. Not only becomes the town very poor, it is also threatened to fall into obliviation completely. Large churches, including the collegiate church St Simon and St Judas were sold for demolition and the town walls had to be knocked down. It was a lucky circumstance that the Kingdom of Hanover bought the Kaiserpfalz and undertook the urgent renovation measures.
Finally, it is the Hohenzollern who took care in the last quarter of the last century of the complete rebuilding of the Kaiserpfalz. The director of the academy of arts in Dusseldorf, Hermann Wisclicenus, produces the monumental wall paintings, depicting the important historic events from the times of the Saxon, Frank and Hohenstaufen emperors. Today, the "aula regis" is used for congresses, receptions and concerts. For the example, once a year the "Deutsche Verkehrsgerichtstag" (German Traffic Court Conference) as well as the famous "Goslarer Pankett" (festive dinner with historical meals) takes place there.
Fortunately, Goslar was spared the chaos of war and so hundreds of timbered houses have been well preserved from the Gothic, the Renaissance and the Baroque era. The owners restored them lovingly and costly, including beautiful paintings on the frame-works. They are living witnesses to history of a mediaeval town which has not lost any of its attraction to the present day.
When the extraction from the ore mines of the Rammelsberg ceased in 1988 after having been in operation for more than one thousand years, an important era of German mining comes to an end in Goslar.
Since 1994, the town is proud of the title "Weltkulturerbe" (world cultural heritage) which was granted by the UNESCO. This title comprises not only the repeatedly mentioned facilities of the Rammelsberg, but also the entire picturesque Old Town. Even though Goslar no longer enjoys the emperor's special fondness, the commitment of the UNESCO and therefore of all mankind, to forever secure the preservation of this town, will hopefully guarantee the protection of this gem of historical architecture for a long time.
Dieter Freesemann
Goslar's history begins in 922 when Henry I, King of Saxony, established a hunting camp on the bank of a small creek named Gose. "Goslarie" resulted from the description of the camp, "Lager an der Gose", which lead to today's name of the town.
Goslar owes its historical importance to large silver ore deposits that were found in the Rammelsberg around 968 under the regime of of Emperor Otto I. At that time, only the nobility had the privilege to coin money from precious metal in order to fill their treasury; not surprisingly, the gentry promptly developed an interest in the Harz region. The emperor of Saxony, Henry II, built already around 1005 a small palace and invited to first Reich assemblies in Goslar. Under the Frank Conrad II the construction of today's Kaiserpfalz started and was finlally completed by Emperor Henry III.
From then on, German and European history was made here. The town became an imprtant administrative centre of the empire very quickly and the imperial palace the favourite domicile of the Frank emperors. For more than two centuries, almost all representatives of the nobility and the clergy met here regularly to make important decisions for the future of the empire. Today, this imperial palace is the largest and best maintained profane building north of the Alpes dating back to the Middle Ages.
"Huldigungsaal" in the town hall (around 1520)
Goslar, and especially the silver mines of the Rammelsberg, was the reason behind the power struggle between Emperor Frederick I of Hohenstaufen (Frederick Barbarossa) and the Guelph Duke Henry (the Lion).
In the meantime, the town had been put under the Emperor's personal protection. Still, over the course of the centuries, the Guelphs would try again and again to access the precious metals of this "reichsunmittelbare" town (self-govering city under the Kaiser). After the Reformation, they evenually succeeded.
The water problem accompanied the mining through the centuries and preluded repeatedly phases of demise. But the city fathers put their faith in progress. More mining tunnels are built in the mountains and serve to establish the enormous richness of the town. Popular parlance referred to Goslar as "Rome of the North". The town boasted not less than forty-seven churches, abbeys and chapels as well as a vigorous fortification with 186 defense towers which were surrounded by a multiple ring of fortification. Some of these can be seen still today, for example the "Dicke Zwinger" which was the most massive one with walls six metres thick. It served to protect the South of the town and the ore transports from the Rammelsberg. It is quite obvious why the town had to be guarded by such a complex fortification: As the classic example of a town of the flourishing middle classes, it is trading the ore products from the Rammelsberg all over the world and therefore has a lot to lose.
At the end of the 18th centuries the ore mining is suspended again. Not only becomes the town very poor, it is also threatened to fall into obliviation completely. Large churches, including the collegiate church St Simon and St Judas were sold for demolition and the town walls had to be knocked down. It was a lucky circumstance that the Kingdom of Hanover bought the Kaiserpfalz and undertook the urgent renovation measures.
Finally, it is the Hohenzollern who took care in the last quarter of the last century of the complete rebuilding of the Kaiserpfalz. The director of the academy of arts in Dusseldorf, Hermann Wisclicenus, produces the monumental wall paintings, depicting the important historic events from the times of the Saxon, Frank and Hohenstaufen emperors. Today, the "aula regis" is used for congresses, receptions and concerts. For the example, once a year the "Deutsche Verkehrsgerichtstag" (German Traffic Court Conference) as well as the famous "Goslarer Pankett" (festive dinner with historical meals) takes place there.
Fortunately, Goslar was spared the chaos of war and so hundreds of timbered houses have been well preserved from the Gothic, the Renaissance and the Baroque era. The owners restored them lovingly and costly, including beautiful paintings on the frame-works. They are living witnesses to history of a mediaeval town which has not lost any of its attraction to the present day.
When the extraction from the ore mines of the Rammelsberg ceased in 1988 after having been in operation for more than one thousand years, an important era of German mining comes to an end in Goslar.
Since 1994, the town is proud of the title "Weltkulturerbe" (world cultural heritage) which was granted by the UNESCO. This title comprises not only the repeatedly mentioned facilities of the Rammelsberg, but also the entire picturesque Old Town. Even though Goslar no longer enjoys the emperor's special fondness, the commitment of the UNESCO and therefore of all mankind, to forever secure the preservation of this town, will hopefully guarantee the protection of this gem of historical architecture for a long time.
Dieter Freesemann