- More than 150,000 people visit World Heritage sites in the Harz
Over 150,000 people have visited the World Heritage Information Centers in the Harz region since their opening. The three locations in Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Goslar, and Walkenried have proven successful, the World Heritage Foundation announced. The response from visitors has been positive.
The goal of the three locations is to inform guests about the World Heritage site. This consists of the old town of Goslar, the nearby Rammelsberg mine, and the Upper Harz Water Management around Clausthal-Zellerfeld - a system of lakes and canals that was once used for mining.
The two information centers in Goslar and Clausthal-Zellerfeld were opened about two years ago. The first location in the more southerly situated Walkenried was opened two years prior to that.
The World Heritage Centers have filled a gap, the World Heritage Foundation announced. Before, there were no central points that provided comprehensive information about the World Heritage site. Many visitors use these centers to gather information and equip themselves with brochures. The locations are set up to provide comprehensive information about the World Heritage site, so visitors do not have to visit all the information centers.
They also serve as starting points for hikes within and through the World Heritage site, it was reported. Additionally, other tourism offers in the Harz are highlighted at the locations. Ultimately, the region fulfills the educational mandate of the United Nations World Heritage Organization, UNESCO. The old town of Goslar and the mine have been protected as World Heritage sites since 1992. The Upper Harz Water Management was added in 2010.
Recently, the Lower Saxony Heritage Association criticized the condition of the Upper Harz Water Management. The historical water system is not being adequately maintained, the umbrella organization of Lower Saxony heritage associations criticized. The World Heritage Foundation then announced that it would address these shortcomings. The works are scheduled to begin in 2025 and will also include the other parts of the Harz World Heritage site, Foundation Director Johannes Großewinkelmann announced.
The 200 square kilometer area of the Upper Harz Water Management requires constant maintenance and appropriate funding, said Großewinkelmann. Public funds are currently more than limited. The past years have been used by the World Heritage Foundation to make the World Heritage site more accessible to visitors - including the three information centers.
Visitors often seek information about the World Heritage site, which includes Goslar's old town, the Rammelsberg mine, and the Upper Harz Water Management in Clausthal-Zellerfeld. The Lower Saxony Heritage Association expressed concerns about the maintenance of the Upper Harz Water Management, a significant portion of the Harz World Heritage site.
