Discover Goslar: Half-Timbered Houses, Imperial Palace and Harz History

Winter activities in Braunlage

Braunlage has several ski slopes, an ice rink and a toboggan run. There are also several ski jumps on the Wurmberg. The range of activities in Braunlage also includes numerous hiking trails and mountain bike routes. This means there are outdoor activities beyond the winter facilities. Seasonal operations and opening conditions may vary; check the latest information before your visit.

If ski slopes, tobogganing or the ice rink are important to your trip, focus your search on the place where these activities are available. Goslar itself is best known for its old town, the Imperial Palace and traces of its mining heritage.

Half-timbered houses and city history in Goslar

Goslar’s historic old town has been preserved as a cohesive whole across around one square kilometre and includes more than 1,500 half-timbered houses. One building brings its long architectural history to life particularly well: the St. Annenhaus on Glockengießerstraße is the oldest half-timbered house in the old town to remain fully intact and has stood since 1488.

The Imperial Palace has stood at the foot of the Rammelsberg for almost 1,000 years. It was once the seat of power for kings and emperors. Visitors can choose from several types of guided tour, including public tours of the Great Hall as well as special, themed and school-group tours. The programme may change, so check the current options before your visit.

Mining history and museums

The former Rammelsberg ore mine is a visitor mine where you can explore various aspects of the mining heritage. Next to it is a museum that examines the history of mining. Goslar Museum offers a different perspective on the city: it presents the lives and work of people in Goslar over more than ten centuries and traces how the city developed over time. Together, the two museums offer distinct perspectives on mining history and everyday urban life.

An exhibition at the Zwinger focuses on the late Middle Ages. It features armour, siege equipment and weapons from the Peasants’ War of 1525 and the Thirty Years’ War, as well as objects related to medieval punishment. At the Goslar Tin Figure Museum, children and adults can cast and paint their own tin figures in an open workshop. This is a way to combine a museum visit with a hands-on activity for everyone.

More places, landscapes and events

There are other themes to explore beyond Goslar’s old town. In Vienenburg, the local history museum presents a collection on the city’s industrial, craft, commercial and business history, and recalls the former potash mining in the Harly. The Harly Tower is a hiking destination on the Harly ridge, offering visitors expansive views. From Vienenburg Castle, the castle tower provides a panorama of the Harz foothills and is considered a landmark of Vienenburg.

In Bad Harzburg, the Harz National Park borders the town directly. Themed hiking trails from Bad Harzburg pass, among other places, lynx and wildcat enclosures and the Radau Waterfall, and continue to the Brocken. Other activities there include the Harz TreeTop Walk and TreeTop Cable Car. The accessible treetop walk runs above the Kaltes Tal, is more than 1,000 metres long and reaches heights of up to 26 metres; it offers insights into nature and geology. The TreeTop Cable Car offers a different way to travel: since 2020, the ride has carried passengers in a harness along a tube system at 12 to 15 km/h for more than 1,000 metres downhill from the Burgberg to the far end of the treetop walk, passing through old oak and beech trees.

Another natural attraction is the Upper Harz Water Management System, also known as the Upper Harz Water Regale, which has been protected in the Goslar district since 1978. The Innerste Dam in Langelsheim serves as a local recreation area for residents and tourists. The area around Lake Vienenburg also offers opportunities for relaxation.

The annual Sehusa Festival, held in the park of the former Sehusa Castle, may appeal to visitors interested in events; it is described as northern Germany’s largest historical festival. Check the exact festival dates and programme before your trip. An interactive route network map helps you get around the district by showing the nearest stops, departure times and sights. Overnight guests can use HATIX free of charge during a holiday in the Harz if they pay the current visitor’s tax in a participating town. Check the requirements and network coverage before travelling.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Bad Harzburg, Braunlage, Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Goslar, Langelsheim, Seesen, Upper Harz, Sankt Andreasberg

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