Sunday, November 2, 2014

Altstadt Goslar

Salian Emperor Henry I founded Goslar in the 10th century after the discovery of silver deposits in the nearby Rammelsberg. The wealth derived from silver mining brought Goslar the status of an Imperial City, which attracted the interest of the Holy Roman Emperor.
The medieval Imperial Palace (Kaiserpfalz Goslar) was built in the 11th century and became a summer residence for the emperors, especially Henry III of Germany who visited his favourite palace about twenty times. Henry's heart is found in St. Ulrich's Chapel in the Kaiserpfaltz.
There are many interesting structures in the city.  As a romantic medievalist of sorts, I found walking around completely immersing and thoroughly enjoyable.
Marktkirche
Großes Heiliges Kreuz
The building Großes Heiliges Kreuz was in 1254 as a hospice built and offered needy, the infirm and orphans , as well as pilgrims and other travelers passing through a night's lodging and food supply.
Zwinger
Rathaus
From Turm of Markkirche
Glockenspiel
Marktbrunnen

Kaiserpfalz Goslar

The Goslar Imperial Palace is the largest, oldest and best preserved secular building of the 11th century in Germany.
Exterior of Chapel of St. Ulrich
A critical eye may discern the reconstruction elements, though the extant fabric represents a genuine puzzle of overlapping interpretations of origin.
Back of Chapel of St. Ulrich
Kaiserhaus

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Rammelsberg

The Rammelsberg is a 635 m high hill south of the town of Goslar in Lower Saxony . Contained within is a mine that after 1,000 years almost continuous ore extraction was closed in 1988.  Since 1992, it is part of visitors' mine Rammelsberg for UNESCO - World Heritage Site .

The Maltermeisterturm is the oldest Tagesanlage of the Rammelsberg and - probably - even in Germany. It was built in 1500 on a heap on the slope of the Rammelsberg. Initially, the tower was used to monitor the pits, from 1578 it was used as an Anläuteturm.
Since the mid-18th century, the Maltermeister lived in the tower. He administered the mining operation, centered on the measuring system of the MalternHence the name of the tower originated.
The museum is outstanding.  It contains a vast wealth of technical details and artifacts that relate to the industrial and cultural history of this unique place.  The exhibition area is underground and quite atmospheric, and the collection so extensive that one can feel a bit lost.  
At one point  I was completely alone, and it was a strange sensation as it was nearly closing time and eerily quiet and I even became paranoid that the doors would be shut and I would be trapped inside.  
A dark mine can have a sinister, even hellish, aura.  And being trapped underground ranks among the most frightening things that I can imagine.  Miners are a unique type of man.  

Isole Borromee