Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [198]
About 1km south of the town centre, the shafts and buildings of this 1000-year-old mine ( 7500; www.rammelsberg.de; Bergtal 19; adult/concession €11/6.50; 9am-6pm, last admission 4.30pm) are now a museum and Unesco World Heritage Site. Admission to the mine includes a German-language tour and a pamphlet with English explanations of the 18th- and 19th-century Roeder Shafts, the mine railway and the ore processing section. Bus 803 stops here.
OTHER MUSEUMS
The five-floor private Musikinstrumenten- und Puppenmuseum ( 269 45; Hoher Weg 5; adult/child €3/1.50; 11am-5pm) will delight both kids and fans of musical instruments and/or dolls. The owner began collecting instruments about 50 years ago; the doll collection spanning 1835-1935 is his daughter’s addition, and a porcelain collection is housed in the cellar.
The Zinnfiguren-Museum ( 258 89; www.zinnfigurenmuseum-goslar.de, in German; Klapperhagen 1; adult/concession €4/2; 10am-5pm Tue-Sun Apr-Oct, to 4pm Nov-Mar) exhibits a colourful collection of painted pewter figures.
Situated just east of the Zinnfiguren-Museum, the Goslarer Museum ( 433 94; König-strasse 1; adult/concession €4/2; 10am-5pm Tue-Sun Apr-Oct, to 4pm Nov-Mar) offers a good overview of the natural and cultural history of Goslar and the Harz. One room contains the treasures from the former Goslar Dom (cathedral), and there’s also a cabinet with coins dating from the 10th century. The original golden eagle from the fountain is also here.
The Mönchehaus Museum ( 295 70; Mönchestrasse 3; adult/child €5/1.50; 10am-5pm Tue-Sat), in a 16th-century half-timbered house, has changing exhibits of modern art, including works by the most recent winner of the prestigious Kaiserring art prize – past winners include Henry Moore, Joseph Beuys and Rebecca Horn. Look for the interesting sculptures in the peaceful garden.
For a real ‘scream’, take a look inside the Museum im Zwinger ( 431 40; www.zwinger.de; Thomasstrasse 2; adult/child €2/1.60; 10am-5pm Apr-Oct, 10am-4pm Mar, closed mid-Nov–Feb), a 16th-century tower that was once part of the ramparts, which has a collection of such late-medieval delights as torture implements, coats of armour and weapons used during the Peasant Wars.
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Sleeping
DJH hostel ( 222 40; jh-goslar@djh-hannover.de; Rammelsberger Strasse 25; under/over 27yr dm €20.10/23.10, s €25.10/28.10, d €22.60/25.60; ) Take bus 803 to Theresienhof to reach this pretty hostel out near the mining museum. Facilities are excellent, with single and twin rooms and six to eight-bed dorms, as well as barbecue and sports areas.
Hotel & Campingplatz Sennhütte ( 225 02; Clausthaler Strasse 28; adult/child €5/2, car/tent €3/2, s/d €25/50) This camping ground is 3km south of Goslar via the B241 (bus 830 to Sennhütte). The rooms are simple but clean, and it’s advisable to reserve through the tourist office before setting out.
Gästehaus Schmitz ( 234 45; Kornstrasse 1; s/d/tr €40/52/65; ) This slightly eccentric guesthouse is an excellent choice in the heart of town, for those on low budgets or looking for an apartment. Book ahead.
Das Brusttuch ( 346 00; www.brusttuch.de; Hoher Weg 1; s €71, d €119-152; ) The soft colours and smart rooms in this historic hotel make it a comfortable snooze-zone. It’s very central and some rooms have double doors to the hallway.
Hotel Kaiserworth ( 7090; www.kaiserworth.de; Markt 3; s €81-101, d €122-182; ) This magnificent 500-year-old former merchant guild building has tasteful rooms and a good restaurant open daily from 6am to 11pm. For insomniacs and barflies there’s the dungeon-like Dukaten Bar, which is open till 6am.
Niedersächsischer Hof ( 3160; www.niedersaechsischer-hof-goslar.de; Rosentorstrasse 20; s €86, d €117; ) Opposite the train station, the ‘Hof’ toys with the idea of being an art hotel (the kids will love the piece near the foyer with the cindered toy cars) and has light rooms well insulated against the bustle outside. Prices fluctuate according to date, so call ahead.
Der Achtermann ( 700 00; www.der-achtermann.de, in German;