Goslar

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Goslar
Coordinates:	51° 54′ N, 10° 26′ E
Time zone:	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Administration
Country:	Germany
State:	Lower Saxony
District:	Goslar
City subdivisions:	12 districts
Lord Mayor:	Henning Binnewies (SPD)
Basic Statistics
Area:	92.58 km² (36 sq.mi.)
Population:	43,058 (30 June 2006)
- Density:	465 /km² (1,205 /sq.mi.)
Elevation:	255 m  (837 ft)
Further Information
Postal codes:	38640, 38642, 38644
Area codes:	05321, 05325
Licence plate code:	GS
Website:	www.goslar.de

Mines of Rammelsberg and Historic Town of Goslar^a
UNESCO World Heritage Site

State Party	Germany
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, iv
Identification	#623
Regionb	Europe and North America
Inscription History
Formal Inscription:	1992 16th Session
a Name as officially inscribed on the WH List b As classified officially by UNESCO

Goslar is a historic town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the administrative centre of the district of Goslar and located on the northwestern slopes of the Harz hills. Goslar and the mines are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Neighbouring municipalities 1.2 City districts 1.3 Climate 2 History 2.1 Demographics 3 Politics 3.1 Town council 3.2 Burgomaster 3.3 Members to Parliament 3.4 Twin towns 4 Culture and sights 4.1 Theatre 4.2 Museums 4.3 Religion 4.4 Sports 4.5 Celebrations and Events 5 Economy and infrastructure 5.1 Transportation 5.2 Media 5.3 Education 6 Persons 6.1 People from Goslar 7 Miscellaneous 8 External links

[edit] Geography

Goslar is situated at the northwestern foot of the Lower-Saxon highlands: the Harz mountains. The Kahlerberg/Schalke is with 763 m (2,503 ft) the highest elevation within the municipal boundaries. The lowest point with 175 m (574 ft) is near Oker river. Geographically Goslar forms the boundary between the Hildesheim Downs which are part of the Northern German Plain, and the Harz Range which is the highest northern-most extension of the Middle German Mountain Range. The Hildesheim Downs are characterised by plains with rich clay soils – used agriculturally for sugar beet farming – interlaced with several hill ranges commonly known as the Hildesheim Forest and Salzgitter Hills. Immediately to the South the Harz mountains rise above the historic borough at a height of 636 m (2,087 ft) (Rammelsberg). Here forestry dominates the landscape. Three rivers cross the municipal boundary: the river Oker, the river Abzucht and the Gose River. The Gose springs approximately 9 km (5.6 mi) south-west of Goslar at the Auerhahn pass (638 m; 2,093 ft) in the Harz mountains. At the northern foot of the Herz Hill (632 m; 2,074 ft) the smaller river Abzucht meets the Gose before it flows into the Oker.

[edit] Neighbouring municipalities

(clockwise from the North): Liebenburg, Vienenburg, Bad Harzburg, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Langelsheim.

[edit] City districts

• Oldtown (Upper and Lower Borough and Centre City)
• Hahndorf (borough)
• Hahnenklee with Bockswiese (borough)
• Jerstedt (borough)
• Jürgenohl with Kramerswinkel
• Ohlhof
• Oker (borough)
• Sudmerberg
• Georgenberg with Kattenberg
• Rammelsberg with Siemensviertel and Rosenberg
• Steinberg
• Baßgeige

[edit] Climate

Climate Table

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average daily maximum temperature (°C)	10	10	11	12	14	17	18	19	17	15	11	11	13.75
Average daily minimum temperature (°C)	0	0	2	3	5	8	10	10	9	6	4	1	4.8
Mean total rainfall (mm)	110	80	90	60	60	70	70	90	100	120	120	100	1070

[edit] History

Main article: History of Goslar

Goslar has a rich history stretching from the Neolithic via the ancient Saxon times, the Holy Roman German empire, Reformation, Enlightenment, German Nationalism, Emancipation, Militarism, German Imperialism, Democratisation, the National Socialist Dictatorship including Racism & Genocide, the Iron Curtain, up to German reunification. In addition Goslar can field an exciting industrial history.

Salian Emperor Henry I founded the town 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 Mediæval Imperial Palace of Goslar (Kaiserpfalz) 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 is buried in Goslar.

Goslar's Mediæval cathedral was build at the same time as the Mediæval Imperial Palace, but only the porch survived; the dome itself was torn down in 1820. Other sights are the town hall (16th century) and the ancient mines of the Rammelsberg, which houses now a mining museum.

[edit] Demographics

Year Inhabitants 1821 7,547 1848 9,748 1871 11,900 1885 15,997 1905 23,640 1925 27,881

Year Inhabitants 1933 29,538 1939 34,371 1946 47,855 1950 53,804 1956 53,236

Year Inhabitants 1961 54,151 1968 53,819 1970 52,649 1975 53,963 1980 52,556

Year Inhabitants 1985 49,636 1990 46,251 1995 46,142 2000 44,278 2005 43,119

(count: December 31st of each year)

[edit] Politics

[edit] Town council

For the legislature from November 1st, 2006 until October 31st, 2011, the seats were allocated as follows:

• SPD: 16 seats (38,38 %)
• CDU: 13 seats (32,98 %)
• FDP: 5 seats (11,69 %)
• Citizens' Alliance: 2 seats (5,81 %)
• Goslarer Linke: 2 seats (5,75 %)
• Grüne: 2 seats (5,35 %)

[edit] Burgomaster

Goslar's current Lord Mayor is Henning Binnewies (Social Democrats).

[edit] Members to Parliament

• European (Constituency: Southern Lower Saxony), Godelieve Quisthoudt-Rowohl (CDU), Erika Mann (SPD)
• Bundestag (Constituency 52: Goslar, Northeim, Osterode), First: Wilhelm Priesmeier (SPD), List: Hans Georg Faust (CDU)
• Landtag Lower Saxony (Constituency 16: Goslar), First: Petra Emmerich-Kopatsch (SPD), List: Dorothee Prüssner (CDU)

[edit] Twin towns

• Arcachon, France (since 1965)
• Beroun, Czech Republic (since 1989)
• Brzeg, Poland (since 2000)
• Ra'anana, Israel (since 2006)
• Windsor and Maidenhead, United Kingdom (since 1969)

[edit] Culture and sights

For a detailed description of Goslar's tourist attractions, please refer to Goslar's Wikitravel entry.

[edit] Theatre

The Odeon Theatre is the town's major theatre venue. It has been recently refurbished. It is host to several productions of visiting theatre companies and music groups.

The alternative theatre Culture Power Station Harz or Kulturkraftwerk Harz is housed in a disused powerstation. Being run by volunteers, it produces contemporary theatre, comedy and hosts mostly alternative cultural events. Here the annual Goslar Fringe Culture Days are held from the start to mid June.

[edit] Museums

• Museum and visitor's mine Rammelsberg, an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage
• Museum in the Mediaeval Imperial Palace (Kaiserpfalz)
• Monks' House, Mönchehaus Museum for Contemporary and Modern Arts
• Goslar Museum
• Museum in the Gothic Town Hall
• Zwinger Tower and Dungeon, Museum for Late Mediaeval History

[edit] Religion

• Protestant-Lutheran
  • Congregation Marktkirche, Market Church (build 1151, North Tower mountable)
  • Congregation Neuwerk, Newark Church
  • Congregation St. Stephani, Saint Stephanus
  • Congregation Zum Frankenberge, Frankenberg Church
  • Congregation Gustav-Adolf-Stabkirche, Gustav Adolf stave church in Hahnenklee
  • Congregation Martin-Luther-Kirche, Martin-Luther Church
  • Congregation St.Paulus Kirche, St. Pauls Church in Oker
  • Congregation St. Georg, St. George
  • Congregation St. Johannes, St. John
  • Parish Church St. Kilians in Hahndorf
  • Congregation St. Lukas, St. Luc
  • Parish Church St. Matthäus, St. Matthew in Jerstedt
  • Congregation St. Peter
• Protestant-Baptist
  • Congregation Christuskirche, Christchurch
• Roman Catholic
  • Congregation St. Jakobi, Saint Jacob the Elder Church (built in 1073, Goslar's oldest romanesque church which is still in use)
  • Congregation Maria Schnee, St. Mary in the Snow in Hahnenklee
  • Congregation St. Barbara (part of St. Jacob)
  • Congregation St. Konrad, St. Conrad (part of St. Jacob) in Oker
  • Congregations St. Benno & St. George
  • Abbey St. George
• Islamic Faith
  • Mosque of the Turkish-German Society
  • Goslar Mosque

[edit] Sports

Situated at the foot of the Harz hills, Goslar offers a great deal of outdoor pursuit, from swimming to rock climbing; from motor sports and aviation to sailing and cross-country biking.

The oldest and most traditional sports club is the MTV Goslar (founded in 1849). Its main facilities, a football pitch and gymnasium are located at the Golden Meadow (Goldene Aue) site.

[edit] Celebrations and Events

In the year 2006 Goslar hosts the Salier Year to celebrate the foundation of this ancient German Imperial dynasty a Millennium ago.

Other events include:

• Annual award (since 1975) of the "Imperial Ring" to a personality who has made an outstanding contribution to society and the arts. Its laureates include Henry Moore, Joseph Beuys, Christo, Dani Karavan etc.
• Goslar International Concerto Days, Mid to End August
• The Goslar Fair, Beginning to Mid July
• Annual Artisans market in the old town, Usually beginning of August
• Old Town Festival, Mid September
• Hanseatic Days, Spring (usually during the Easter holidays)

[edit] Economy and infrastructure

The town centre of Goslar serves as a regional shopping centre to the Northern Harz region. Here department stores, several supermarkets, eloquent boutiques and restaurants can be found. Once weekly, there is also a market, where farmers sell their local produce. There are also several car dealerships in the borough, some of whom specialise in either discount/reimport or custom car sales.

The tourism sector is a booming sector in Goslar. Several hotels and bed and breakfasts are located in or near the town's centre. In addition, the town has become a popular resort for the elderly and there are many care homes in the town.

Goslar has become a popular conference venue. The Achtermann Hotel and the Kaiserpfalz are popular conference centres, host to the annual German Road & Transport Tribunal Days: the Deutscher Verkehrsgerichtstag

Largest employers in Goslar are H.C. Starck (chemistry company), the tourism sector, and the civil service. Many residents of Goslar commute to Salzgitter, where car production, steel works and white collar jobs are based.

The Dr.-Herbert-Nieper-Krankenhaus is a privately owned hospital of the Asklepios Harzkliniken group serving the greater Harz region. A new annex for intensitive medicine is under construction. There are several general practitioners, dentists, and specialist practitioners distributed across the town. There is an emergency service in place.

[edit] Transportation

Goslar has excellent road links, as well as rail links connecting it to the major European population centres. Goslar also serves as a major transport hub for the Upper Harz mountains (highest peak at 1,141 m (3,744 ft) altitude).

With the A 7 and the A 395 there are two main Autobahns/Highways within 20 minutes reach of Goslar. The A 7 connects Hamburg/Hanover in the North to Frankfurt/Munich in the South. The A 395 branches off the main east-west Autobahn A 2 at Brunswick and ends at Vienenburg, some 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Goslar. The A 2 connects Berlin – to the East – to the Ruhr Area and the Netherlands in the West. The Federal highways B 6 and B 82 converge at Goslar and are routed via the four-lane by-pass past the town centre. The B 6 is mostly four-laned and approaches Goslar via the scenic Hildesheim–Salzgitter route.

Goslar is served by the German Railway network (Deutsche Bahn) lines Hanover–Goslar–Halle (Saxony-Anhalt) as well as Brunswick–Goslar–Kreiensen. The central railway station is located in the vicinity of the town centre. There is a park-and-ride system for cummuters to Brunswick and Hanover.

At the railway station there is a central bus station with busses travelling routinely to various destinations in the Harz mountains.

[edit] Media

The regional newspaper is the Goslar Chronicle Goslarsche Zeitung which has an estimated daily readership of 90,000. The General-Anzeiger is a gazette owned by the Heinrich Bauer publishing group with an editorial office in Goslar. Aside from this there are two freely distributed gazettes.

Radio Okerwelle GoslarRadio is the regional private radio station based in Brunswick, which broadcasts contemporary music, information and news in the German language to the Brunswick region.

[edit] Education

The three tier education system in Goslar district falls under Lower-Saxon legislation. The language of tuition at all schools is the German language. The nine primary schools are distributed across the entire municipality and the associated hamlets. There are two advanced vocational schools (5-12/13), the Christian-von-Dohm-Gymnasium, and the more traditional Ratsgymnasium, both of which prepare their students for an academic career. Three intermediate level schools (5-10), the Andre-Mouton Realschule, the Realschule Hoher Weg, and the Realschule Goldene Aue prepare their pupils for a professional career. Furthermore, two vocational schools (5-9/10) exist: the Hauptschule Oker, and the Hauptschule Kaiserpfalz. The Sonderschule caters to children with learning difficulties and special needs.

The supplementary public Waldorf school Harz – Branch Goslar, educates its students along a more spiritual line termed anthroposophy, which is based on the teachings of the Austrian pedagogue Rudolf Steiner.

At the 10-12 level there are four job training colleges located at Goslar in crafts, economics, and care for the elderly for students from Goslar district and beyond.

The nearest University from Goslar is the old venerable Engineering and Mining School at Clausthal-Zellerfeld situated in the Upper Harz mountains some 21 km (13  mi) South of Goslar within Goslar district. Some 80 km (50 mi) to the South the highly acclaimed University of Göttingen (founded by King George II of Great Britain) is based.

The Community College (Volkshochschule) of the district Goslar is dedicated to life-long learning.

[edit] Persons

• Siemens Family. The ancestral home of the Siemens family, who can count toward their more famous offspring, the Prussian-British-Russian industrial pioneers Werner von Siemens, Sir William Siemens and Carl von Siemens, is in Goslar

[edit] People from Goslar

• Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor (1050–1106), King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor
• Maurice, comte de Saxe (1696–1750), Marshal General of France. Adversary of the Hanoverians.
• Albert Niemann (1834–1861), chemist and pharmacist. Credited with the discovery of cocaine.
• Sigmar Gabriel (born 1959), politician (SPD)
• Aaron Hunt (born 1986), footballer

[edit] Miscellaneous

Being a mediæval town, which essence has not changed since its foundations, Goslar has its charms. Although the region has a high unemployment rate, local bonding and local strength, such as high-tech engineering, high-precision manufacturing, and logistics might benefit the town. Also the town needs to be reinvigorated like in the 1970's when innovative architects and designers fostered the town's economy. As the mining and metal works have ceased to exist, new environmentally centered industries might take their place.

In the cold war, Goslar has been a major garrison town for the German army and the Border police. After the fall of the Berlin wall, the barracks have been vacated and a major economic factor has been lost. However, the town's citizens should not decry this, but actively build a caring microsocial cohesion within a globalised world.

[edit] External links

• Official website (English)

Goslar at the Open Directory Project (suggest site)