NÜRNBERG
Sightseeing

History   I   Sightseeing   I   Practical   I  Hotels in Nürnberg  

Nürnberg's castle is perhaps the most important monument in the city. It was the custom for Teutonic (Germanic) people in medieval Europe to set up a castle, around which a town would develop. Nürnberg was founded in the 11th century as the residence of Kaiser (Emperor) Heinrich III and a city quickly followed, which became an important trade center. In 1332 Nürnberg was declared an imperial city, or a city state, by King Ludwig the Bavarian; it remained an imperial free city, with its local government answering only to the King, until 1806 when it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Bavaria, now the German state of Bavaria. Nürnberg was the place where the imperial Reichstag (Parliament or Congress) met until 1543. It was also the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, which began when the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church crowned the first Emperor on Christmas day in the year 800 AD. The first Holy Roman Emperor was from the Teutonic tribe called the Franks; to most of the world, he is known as Charlemagne or Charles the Great, but he has always been known as Karl der Grosse to the Germans. He was chosen as the Emperor by the Pope because he was Roman Catholic at a time when there were several other Christian sects in Europe.

The original city of Nürnberg was established inside a defensive brick wall guarded by 46 fortified towers, and 5 km long. It is surrounded by a moat filled with water and then another outside wall. There were five main gates into the city, four of which are still standing, including the Königstor (Kings's Gate), which is located across from the main railroad station and is the first piece of Nürnberg history that most tourists see. It  has taken over 50 years to repair the damage done by a few weeks of bombing on these truly impressive structures. You will surely wonder how some of this massive stonework could have been done with the tools of the time. Perhaps not every tourist will also wonder how the guards in the high towers managed without flush toilets. You will notice tiny rooms which project from high on the side of every authentic tower. If you had been looking up, from outside the walls, at the these structures in days of old, your wonder might well have been answered in a very direct manner. Today, the former arms storage area for these fortifications has become an interesting local craft fair area.

This is also the  Dürerhaus  (Dürer House) is to be found.  Here the first genius of the Renaissance in Germany directed the development of many of Germany’s best artists and did some of his finest work. An elegant souvenir of Nürnberg is a copy of one of his wonderful prints, dated 1504 or so! Pack it in a rigid cover and carry it home to be well framed and enjoyed for the rest of your life.

Admire the wonderful Schöner Brunnen (“Beautiful Fountain”) on the main market (Hauptmarkt) and its fabled brass ring.  The fountain had to be walled in to prevent damage from the droves of bombers. And it was here that the American Army forces held their celebration of the capture of the city in WWII. Now you can browse among the throngs of colorful street vendors and produce sellers and take dozens of pictures of this square which is now so peaceful.

The Seebalder Altstadt, which is also part of the parish that belongs to the St.Sebaldus-Kirche has always been the more affluent of the two. The impressive Kaiserburg and attractions such as the municipal museum (Stadtmuseum im Fembohaus) are a favourite with tourists and the old artisan's lane the Weißgerbergasse make people think of Nuremberg's medieval standing.

The Lorenzer Altstadt can be found on the other side of the river Pegnitz. It is more commercial and a fine mix of old and new can be found here. The controversial Ehekarussell-Brunnen, which depicts the bittersweet nature of marriage and the magnificent Lorenzkirche (built around 1270) are surrounded by modern buildings. If you are interested in German History and Culture, visit the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, a site that is devoted to these subjects.

The eastern part of the Old Town is often referred to as the Egidienviertel. The 17th century Egidienkirche, which is Nuremberg's only baroque-style church, is the focal point of this quarter. Once upon a time, this area was favoured by some of the city's richest and most influential citizens but looking at the area today, you would not think it. The air raids during 1945 causes such extensive damaged that what was one of the most historic parts of Nuremberg became a mere field of rubble. The 17th century Pellerhaus which was once admired throughout Germany hints at how luxurious the area used to be. In contrast to attitude adopted towards the main bulk of the Altstadt, the post-war period here did not give rise to the same amount of effort to rebuild.

A very special sightseeing attraction is the Zeppelin Stadium.. It was here that Hitler held his gigantic, mesmerizing Nürnberg rallies. Albert Speer, Hitler's favourite architect was in charge of the project and what followed was a building project that transformed older buildings such as the Kongreßhalle and created new ones such as the Zeppelin Tribune. Even today, the greying landscape serves to link Nuremberg to the Third Reich. In the post-war period there was much debate on which attitude to adopt to the former Party Rally grounds. In the summer months you can view an exhibition on the city's experiences between 1933 and 1945 (Fazination und Gewalt) and the area as a whole is today used as a recreation ground. The 1 FC Nürnberg (the city's football team) is also at home here: they play home matches in the modern Frankenstadion and are affectionately called the Club by the locals.

Furthermore, Nürnberg has several interesting and very unusual museums. The Germanisches Nationalmuseum( just a few minutes walk from the Hauptbanhof) is a must-see !. Located in a old monastery, very interesting in itself, the collections are absolutely wonderful and very well exhibited.  Beneath the city hall are old torture chambers where the early administrators of “justice” took “confessions and depositions” from those unlucky enough to be referred to its soundproof depths. Ironically, these chambers later served to shelter and save much priceless artwork and the lives of many Germans during the horrible bombing raids of W.W.II.