Germany > Saxony-Anhalt > Goseck circle and Goseck castle (Schloss Goseck)
Goseck circle and Goseck castle (Schloss Goseck)
N 51°11.895', E 11°51.879'
2020-02-08
http://www.sonnenobservatorium-goseck.info/
Our rating: 7.20
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The Goseck Circle is one of the oldest solar observatories in the world. Good place for outdoor walking, especially with children.
Goseck circle ©Yuriy Buriak
The circle was discovered in 1991 during aerial photography of the area. Radiocarbon analysis showed that it was built around 4900 BC and used for at least 200 years. The most important find of archaeologists was two holes in the ramparts, which proved the researchers that they found a solar observatory. Best seen from above
Goseck circle ©Yuriy Buriak
The holes indicate the points of sunrise and sunset during the winter solstice. This is the day when the sun is the lowest above the horizon, and the day, accordingly, is the shortest. For the first time, the date of the winter solstice was fixed in the calendar by Julius Caesar, setting it on December 25. However, due to the fact that the year is not exactly 365 days, this date gradually shifted and in the 16th century it moved as much as 12 days.
Goseck circle ©Yuriy Buriak
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII set a new date - December 22, and nowadays the solstice fluctuates within a day from this date.
Goseck circle ©Yuriy Buriak
The famous Stonehenge in the UK is a similar solar observatory, but it was built 3,500 years later. In general, such structures are not unique. Hundreds of them were found in Germany, Austria and Croatia, but the vast majority are not of scientific interest and scientists have focused on the oldest.
Goseck circle ©Yuriy Buriak
Since the Neolithic era (9500 BC) these days were very important for people. There was always hunger in winter and it was important for people to understand whether they could survive the winter and whether they had enough supplies. But there was no such thing as a calendar. So they were guided by special days, which they calculated using the length of the shadow of a stick or tree.
Goseck circle ©Yuriy Buriak
Another curious fact is that it was the winter solstice that caused the idea of the birth of the gods. Since the sun starts rising upper, then God has been reborn, everything is simple.
Goseck circle ©Yuriy Buriak
In addition to the circle itself, there is also a castle in Goseck, founded by the Archbishop of Bremen in the 11th century. There you can find an information center about the Goseck circle with the information described in this article.
Goseck castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Goseck castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Goseck castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Goseck castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Goseck castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Getting there: parking near the circle N 51 12.013 E 11 52.263 , then 600 meters on foot. The nearest bus stop is Kochs Garten, Goseck, then 900 meters on foot. You can also walk from the circle to the castle, it's about 1,400 meters. Parking for a couple of cars near the castle N 51 11.567 E 11 52.558 . The bus stop closest to the castle is Bergschlößchen, Goseck. Use bahn.de .
Tags, Germany: unusual buildings Tags, all countries: unusual buildings
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 7.20
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help