We had good cause (under the social distancing rules) to visit Goslar in the Harz Mountains.

Goslar in the Harz Mountains is a town containing an amazing array of fantastic mediaeval and post medieval buildings.

Although the Harz were hit hard by Allied bombing during World War Two Goslar was spared – the Nazi´s went underground in the Harz using the many bomb proof mines situated there to build things such as the V2 Vengeance rockets.

The Allied response was to attack the infrastructure of roads/towns etc. instead. Town planners/developers nonetheless have managed to build several eyesores inside this medieval walled town during the post war period. Including a few favourite department stores that Brit´s will recognise.

In addition to the wooden buildings is the Kings Palace a reminder of the importance of Goslar politically/financially to the area. In the past mining was king but now its tourism. German writer Goethe called Goslar in the 18th Century “an Imperial city rotted in with its privileges”. Goslar sided with the old religion and the Imperial Holy Roman Empire during the devastating Thirty Years War (17th Century) and was occupied by the opposing Protestant Swedes.

Our visit coincided with the first day of forced mask wearing in shops in Germany to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and many businesses were open, but it was quiet. On route we had a picnic on the large Oker Dam and with one hour to spare in Goslar we took pictures and closed the day with a second picnic atop the Seiber Pass on the way home.

The Harz is an amazing place and with the sun shining the views across the mountains were stunning. Many people had also ventured out and the car parks were busy, and the roads buzzed with the sounds of motorbikes (accidents are frequent on the sweeping mountain roads and numerous signs gives warning).

We all social distanced.

Links
The Harz, spit out of middle Germany
Life in a time of Covid-19

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