[Leica] New Gallery: Goslar - a wide-angle walk around the ancient city

[douglas.sharp at gmx.de (Douglas Sharp)]

Hello all,

Goslar is a small city in the north west of the Harz Mountains, about 
60-70 kilometres from here (Hannover).

http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DMS/Germany/Goslar/?g2_page=1   - and 
following pages

After the discovery of metallic ores - lead, zinc, copper, a little gold 
and a lot of silver - it became one of the richest cities in Europe and 
an imperial residence. Silver coins minted in Goslar were so pure that 
they became something like a standard currency in many countries of Europe

The story is told, and depicted by the animated clock in the market 
square, that a knight's horse kicked up the ground to reveal silver ore. 
Not being one to miss out on immense wealth, the Emperor decided to take 
up residence in the city.

The Palatinate palace was built in the 11th century as an imperial 
residence by Henry the Second to protect and maintain the town?s 
prosperity, and the Imperial Assembly of the Holy Roman Empire was held 
there from 1009 to 1219.

(The palace looks like an industrial building to me, it just doesn't 
look all that old from outside)

Mining of the Rammelsberg, the mountain just outside the city began 
around 968 and continued until 1988 when the mine closed.

The mining complex is now a part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

The city's timbered houses and the grey slate cladding of roofs and 
walls are typical of many Harz mining cities.

I hope you enjoy a photographic walk around the town centre.

Cheers
Douglas

For the technically minded, the wide stuff is shot with a Tokina 12-24 
on a Canon 20D, the rest with a Zeiss 1.4/85 and a Summicron-R 2/35mm