You only see what you know (Goethe)
The Selke Valley Railway (Selketalbahn) connects the places Quedlingburg and Hasselfelde/Eisfelder Talmühle with a branch to Harzgerode. It is part of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways (Harzer Schmalspurbahnen), the largest narrow gauge network in Germany. At my first visit I took a ride from Alexisbad to Gernrode.
In many German cities you can see such statues simple called Roland. in former times these statues indicated that this place was privileged with city rights. Generally they were placed next to the city hall or at the market place so everybody could see this sign of privileges.
Once upon a time administration buildings in Germany were built like castles. This district administration for the district Quedlinburg was built in 1902 in the style of Historicism. I wonder which kind of offices had been behind all of those different types of windows?
In 2006, there was a need for a new crucifix inside the St. Servatius Collegiate Church of Quedlinburg Abbey. An artist from Halle, Mr. Thomas Leu, was chosen to create this crucifix made of aluminium.
German writer Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock was born in this building on July 2nd, 1724. Today, it houses a museum about his works. For example, visitors learn more about the epic poem ‘The Messiah’ (Der Messias).
The museum about timber framing (Fachwerkmuseum) is located in one of the oldest houses of Quedlinburg, a 14th-century building named Ständerbau. Inside, several models show the different styles of half-timbered buildings over time.
On my walk through Quedlinburg, I came across this Moravian Star. Generally, it is an Advent decoration popular in Germany and other places where there are Moravian congregations. The German name Herrnhuter Stern refers to the city of Herrnhut. There the stars were first commercially produced.
Blankenburg Castle (Schloss Blankenburg) stands on a limestone high over Blankenburg in Saxony-Anhalt. Frederica of Hanover, mother of Queen Sofía of Spain, was born here in 1917.
In the year 1254, a hospital for people in need, invalids and orphans, but also for pilgrims has been erected in Goslar. Today the building, which is generally known by its German name ‘Große Heilige Kreuz’, still houses flats for retired people. In another part of the former hospital, you can visit a couple of craftspeople in their shops.
On my way from the centre of Goslar to the Imperial Palace (Kaiserpfalz) I came across this double-crooked building in the middle of a row of half-timbered houses. I guess, it wouldn’t be that easy to buy furniture for this home?
You find these strange faces on one of the oldest squares in Goslar. The German name of the square is Schuhhof. Personally, they reminded me more of faces known from overseas than of German ones.
An impressive way to learn more about the history of Goslar: This pewter figure museum (Zinnfigurenmuseum) offers guided tours along the numerous showcases telling about the city’s history.