Sandalsand Norge >>
Mining innovation and the pretty town of Goslar. These are the key words about this heritage site in the middle of Germany.
The UNESCO World Heritage List includes more than a thousand properties with outstanding universal value. They are all part of the world’s cultural and natural heritage.
Official facts
- Official title: Mines of Rammelsberg, Historic Town of Goslar and Upper Harz Water Management System
- Country: Germany
- Date of Inscription: 1992
- Category: Cultural site
UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre’s short description of site no. 623:
“The Upper Harz mining water management system, which lies south of the Rammelsberg mines and the town of Goslar, has been developed over a period of some 800 years to assist in the process of extracting ore for the production of non-ferrous metals. Its construction was first undertaken in the Middle Ages by Cistercian monks, and it was then developed on a vast scale from the end of the 16th century until the 19th century. It is made up of an extremely complex but perfectly coherent system of artificial ponds, small channels, tunnels and underground drains. It is a major site for mining innovation in the western world. “
My visit
Neither mines nor water management system drew our attention on our visit to this district. We did however have a pleasant stay in the town of Goslar. The town is quite close to the Rammelsberg mines. It played an important part in the Hanseatic League because of this. Also, from the 10th to the 12th century it became one of the seats of the Holy Roman Empire. The historic centre of Goslar dates back to the Middle Ages and includes around 1,500 timber-framed houses from the 15th to 19th centuries.
