Best things to do in Goslar

At the foot of the Rammelsberg hill in the quaint town of Gosler, the historic Imperial Palace of Goslar-- better known as the Imperial Palace of Goslar-- was a favorite imperial residence of the Saxon and Salic emperors dating back to the 11th century. Together with the town's 47 churches, chapels, and monasteries, the area has been dubbed Rome of the North. Kaiserhaus, the oldest and best preserved of the buildings, was the largest secular building in 11th-century Germany. Visit the Imperial Palace to see the two-story hall, imperial throne, the family's old living quarters, and imperial hall, which is decorated with monumental murals by H. Wislicenus.

An almost castle-like church built in the 11th century, Nordturm der Marktkirche is known for its stained glass windows from 1250, nine of which depict scenes from the lives of the two church saints, Cosmas and Damian. Admire the ornate design of the 16th-century baptismal font--but don't forget to look up to see its matching lid suspended from ceiling. Hike up the 230 steps of the church's north tower, and you'll be rewarded with panoramic views of the town and surrounding area.

At , you can explore mines that operated for more than 1,000 years. Take a German or English tour of the modern or medieval mine. You can enter via an old, covered miner car, and go deep into the mountain. You can learn the history of the facility, as well as old mining techniques, such as how they used water wheels to remove water from the mine. Be prepared to go up and down steps to navigate the area. The aboveground museum features a collection of mine equipment, ores, and minerals. You can explore the museum without a guide; headphones are offered in English and German. A museum shop and restaurant are on site.

One of the most popular castle destinations in Saxony-Anhalt, Wernigerode Castle was built into a slope in 1213. In the 18th century, Count Christian Ernest had the castle renovated in the Baroque style that you see today. More renovations in the 19th century added the romantic touch that makes the castle seem as if it arose from the pages of a fairytale. The interior courtyard comes to life during the Christmas season with activities and events happening every hour. These include storytelling, minstrels, reenactments, and a Christmas market. The castle museum is open throughout the year and often hosts conferences, weddings, and events because of its beautiful interior architecture.

Kramerbruecke is the only bridge of its kind in Europe north of the Alps. First chronicled in 1117, the other ancient bridges like this one have burned up. This bridge, however, is composed of lime- and sandstone instead of timber. Its long stretch of inhabited buildings features craftspeople displaying and selling pottery, woodcarvings, and blown glass. Check out the 1:1,000 scale model of the bridge in the House of Foundations. To see the whole thing, walk across the bridge and also take a look from above and below.