GOSLAR

city, Lower Saxony Land (state), north-central Germany, at the northern foot of the Harz Mountains. Founded in 922 to protect rich silver mines discovered in the Rammelsberg, it became a favourite residence of the early Holy Roman emperors. The scene of frequent meetings of the Reichstag (legislative assembly) in the 11th and 12th centuries, it joined the Hanseatic League in the 13th century. After obtaining an imperial provostship in 1290, it was an imperial free city until annexed by Prussia in 1802. It passed to Westphalia in 1807, to Prussia in 1814, to Hanover in 1815, and, with the Hanoverian kingdom, back to Prussia in 1866. Hitler made it the headquarters of the Nazi agricultural organization in 1936. It was undamaged in World War II and so received many refugees from other towns. Parts of the old city walls remain, as do the 16th-century towers, particularly the Breites Tor (Broad Gate), Zwinger, and Achtermann. There are interesting stone and half-timbered buildings from the 13th-16th century and guildhalls belonging to the bakers' and cloth merchants' guilds; the latter (1494) is now the Kaiserworth Hotel. The Imperial Palace (c. 1040, restored late 19th century) was built by Emperor Henry III, whose tomb is in the St. Ulrich Chapel. The 12th-century town hall, later rebuilt, contains a unique homage chamber. The cathedral (consecrated 1050) was demolished in 1819, but surviving medieval monastery and parish churches include the Neuwerkkirche, St. James's, the Market Church, and the Frankenberg Church. There are museums of natural science, art, cultural history, and hunting and forestry. Goslar is also an important tourist base for the Harz Mountains. In addition, it has a large men's clothing factory, chemical plants, and other industries. Pop. (1989 est.) 45,614.