Nuremberg Travel Guide: Uncover the Charms of Bavaria’s Historic Gem
Nuremberg
Nuremberg (Nürnberg in German) is the second-largest city in Bavaria after Munich in terms of size and population. It has more than 500,000 people. The city, which was first called “Nuorenberc” (meaning “rocky mountain”), was built around the year 1000. It was first mentioned in 1050 in a document from Emperor Henry III.
Renaissance and Decline
During the Renaissance, the city grew in size thanks to trade with the rest of Europe. There was also a lot of cultural and artistic activity, as shown by the paintings of Albrecht Durer, whose home is now a museum, and the sculptures of Peter Vischer. However, after the Thirty Years War (1618–1648), the city began to slowly decline.
World War II and Rebuilding
The bombings of World War II did a lot of damage to the old town center, which has been partially rebuilt. The Pegnitz river divides the old town center into two parts: the side of St. Lorenz and that of St. Sebald. These two parts are connected by the strong walls of walls, which were built between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. They are 5 kilometers long and have 80 defensive towers.
Churches and Landmarks
- Church of San Sebaldo: The late Romanesque Church of San Sebaldo was built between 1230 and 1274. It was a stronghold of the Protestant movement in the 1600s and holds the “Sebaldusgrab,” which is the tomb of the saint with the same name.
- Church of San Lorenzo: The Gothic Church of San Lorenzo was started in 1280, but it wasn’t finished until the end of the 15th century, when two huge bell towers were added. It is home to the “Engelsgrub,” which is the Angel’s greeting to Mary at the Annunciation and was made by Veit Stoss in 1517.
- Frauenkirche: The “Frauenkirche” (Church of Our Lady), which has been rebuilt but is still worth a visit, especially at noon when the carillon is played every day on the facade overlooking the picturesque market square, with statues of seven electors passing by and bowing to Emperor Charles IV.
- Church of St. Martha: The 14th-century Church of St. Martha was home to the “Mastersingers of Nuremberg” from 1578 to 1620.
- Konigstortum and Konigstor: Aside from the churches, the “Konigstortum” tower and the “Konigstor” gate, which are near the station, also draw people’s attention.
- Handwerkerhof: A short walk away, they can also go into the “Handwerkerhof,” the artisans’ quarter, which was built in 1971 on the site of the old gunsmiths’ district. The “Handwerkerhof” takes us back in time with its rows of small half-timbered houses that house different businesses.
Hauptmarkt and Burg
Since the Middle Ages, the “Hauptmarkt” has been the city’s main meeting place. In December, the “Christkindlesmarkt,” the most famous Christmas market in Germany, takes place there. In the middle of the “Hauptmarkt” is the “Schoner Brunnen,” a fountain in the shape of a 19-meter-tall pinnacle that was built at the end of the 14th century.
On a small hill just outside the city is the beautiful “Burg,” the city fortress that was built in 1039 as the emperor’s home. In the 15th century, it was turned into a military citadel. Inside the “Kaiserburg,” which is the safest part of the fortress, you can still see the luxurious apartments of the imperial family.
Germanisches Nationalmuseum
The “Germanisches Nationalmuseum” is the most important of Nuremberg’s many museums. It has more than 1 million objects from the Iron Age to the present day, including works by Durer, Grien, and Kandinsky. Other important museums include the “Verkehrsmuseum,” which shows the history of the German railway system from 1835 to the present; the “Spielzeugmuseum,” which has toys from the 18th to the 20th centuries; and the “Stadtmuseum,” the city museum, which has
Do not miss the Christmas markets (Nuremberg Christkindlesmark) and the spectacular Blue Night (Blaue Nacht). During Blue Night, the old part of the city is lit up with blue lights, and Nuremberg becomes an open-air gallery for artists who play with lights, installations, tones, projections, fires, and performances (see photo).
In the first half of the 1900s, the city became known for the dramatic events related to Nazism. These included the congresses of Hitler’s National Socialist Party, the passing of the first racial laws in 1935, and the famous “Nuremberg trial” (November 20, 1945–October 1, 1946), where an international military tribunal judged the crimes committed by the Nazi leaders.
How to get to Nuremberg
Nuremberg is easy to get to because it has a convenient airport less than 10 kilometers from the city, good rail connections that link the central station to the biggest cities in Germany, and motorways A3, A9, and A73. The climate is usually continental, with harsh winters and a lot of rain and snow. Because of this, it’s best not to leave during the coldest months of the year, but rather between May and September.
