Nuremberg Travel Guide
A detailed destination guide for your next Germany vacation
Nuremberg Overview
Nuremberg (German: Nürnberg) is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal and is Franconia's largest city. It is located about 170 kilometers north of Munich (Munich vacation rentals | Munich travel guide).
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Things to See
The southern part of the old town, known as Lorenzer Seite, is separated from the north by the river Pegnitz and encircled to the south by the city walls.
- Nuremberg Castle: three castles tower over the city, including the central burgraves' castle, with Free Reich's buildings to the east and the Imperial castle to the west.
- Heilig-Geist-Spital. In the center of the city, on the bank of the river Pegnitz, stands the Hospital of the Holy Spirit. Founded in 1332, this is one of the largest hospitals of the Middle Ages. Lepers were kept here at some distance from the other patients. It now houses elderly persons and a restaurant.
- Hauptmarkt, which provides a picturesque setting and famous market for gingerbread. Nuremberg's star attraction is the Gothic Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain) which was erected around 1385 but subsequently replaced with a replica (the original fountain is kept in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum). The unchanged Renaissance bridge Fleischbrücke crosses the Pegnitz nearby.
- The following churches are located inside the city walls: St. Sebaldus Church, St. Lorenz, Frauenkirche (Our Lady's Church), Saint Klara, Saint Martha, Saint Jakob, Saint Egidien, and Saint Elisabeth.
- Gothic St Lorenz-Kirche (St. Lorenz church, St. Lorenz), one of the most important buildings in Nuremberg. The main body was built around 1270-1350.
- The church of the former Katharinenkloster is preserved as a ruin, the Cartause is integrated into the building of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum and the choir of the former Franzikanerkirche is part of a modern building.
- The Walburga Chapel and the Romanesque Doppelkapelle (Chapel with two floors) are part of Nuremberg Castle.
- The Johannisfriedhof is a medieval cemetery, containing many old graves (Albrecht Dürer, Willibald Pirckheimer, and others). The Rochusfriedhof or the Wöhrder Kirchhof are near the Old Town.
- The Tiergarten Nürnberg is a zoo stretching over more than 60 ha in the Nürnberger Reichswald. It is the home of Flocke, an orphan polar bear cub who in 2008 became a major attraction and a figure of a large publicity campaign for Nuremberg's metropolitan region.
- There is also a medieval market just inside the city walls, selling handcrafted goods.
- The German National Railways Museum (an Anchor Point of ERIH, The European Route of Industrial Heritage) is located in Nuremberg.
- The Nuremberg Ring (now welded within an iron fence) is said to bring good luck to those that touch it.
[ source: wikipedia ]
Maps and Driving Directions to Nuremberg
Travel Insider Tips for Nuremberg
Nurnberg combines medieval history, modern sophistication, and a fairly-tale setting to create one of my favorite cities in the world.
Shared by Richard Perkins, Sep 2009
I covered the toy fair twice in Nuremburg. If you have children and want to keep up with the latest toys or you are a kid at heart, you should look at the reviews of this fair...it's amazing. Beats Las Vegas by a mile!
Shared by William D. Sutherland III, Feb 2011
This post brought back memories and tears. I miss that part of the holidays.
Shared by Manuela Eckert, Nov 2010
A few of the points of interest: -The fortifications: Nürnbergs "Old Town" is surrounded by a 90% intact city wall complete with a moat. It was finished in the 16th century and is one of the last of it's type in the world. -The Imperial Castle: an aprox. 1000 year old fortress that was the site of the first 'Reichstag' of every Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire as of 1356 AD. -The Altstadt: although it was almost 90% destroyed by the carpet bombings of WWII, Nürnbergs citizens decided to rebuild the historical core of the city which contains besides the castle a wealth of old buildings and churches dating back to approx 1100 AD. -Felsenkeller: an underground labyrinth of cellars dug into the sandstone of the old town up to 4 stories deep. Initially built to store beer, they were the live saver of some 8000 citizens who sought refuge there as the city was bombed to rubble at the end of WWII. -Dutzendteich: Was the site of the first city zoo, and used by the Nazis to build a monumental parade ground, staduim, congress hall and other buildings which can still be visited. Also the site of the "Dokumentation Center" (Holocaust Museum), the Volksfest, the Norisring race track and the home of Nürnbergs major league hockey team "Ice Tigers" and the football team 1.FCN.
Shared by Markus Hufer, Aug 2010
The Gluewein is awesome along with the Nurnberger brats. Can't wait to make another trip there.
Shared by Ted Lawver, Nov 2010
I went many years ago. It was so packed, that I lost my Husband. Bus after Bus is rolling on to town. .. I prefer the smaller markets.
Shared by Margit Kühn, Nov 2010
Nuremberg
[ source: Flickr]
Popular Points of Interest in and near Nuremberg
Nuremberg Castle
The Imperial Castle, symbol of Nuremberg, rises high above the city. The castle, where between 1050 and 1571 all Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation were in residence at least for some time, is one of the most important imperial palaces of the Middle Ages. The Palas (main building) with its sumptuously furnished Emperor's rooms, the Roman double chapel, the deep well, and the Sinwell Tower, as well as a comprehensive collection of weapons and utensils can be visited today.
Hours: Open daily April to September: 9am - 6pm, October to March: 10am - 4pm.
Admission: Combination ticket 6 €, concessions 5 €, free for children up to 18 years. Deep Well plus Sinwell Tower 3 €, concessions 2 Euros. Regular tours through the Museum every 1st Saturday of the month at 2:30pm for 1 €.
Craftsmen Courtyard (Handwerkerhof)
Right in the middle of Nuremberg's city, surrounded by the towers and walls of the medieval city fortification, the Crafts Yard (Handwerkerhof) invites Nuremberg' guests on an exciting stroll. This little town near the Königstor
, opposite the Main Railway Station offers traditional crafts and Franconian hospitality in a charming atmosphere. It is quite astonishing what you can discover in those little workshops, shops and lanes: craftsmen such as pewterers, bag-makers, glass engravers, potters, wax artists, gold and silversmiths, glass painters, gingerbread bakers and doll makers have set up their workshops and show their skills in pretty half-timbered houses.
Hospitality and cosy Franconian atmosphere can also be found in the Crafts Yard: the famous Nuremberg roast sausages and other savoury Franconian specialities are best washed down with a tankard of fresh Nuremberg beer or a glass of Franconian wine.
Hours: Shops: Monday to Friday 10am - 6pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm. Taverns: Monday to Saturday 10:30am - 10pm. Closed on Sundays and on public holidays. Open during the Christmas Market daily from 10am - 6pm. Please note that the area is closed from January until March 13.
Documentation Centre Party Rally Grounds
[ source: Wikipedia ]
In 1933, the National Socialists decided that Nuremberg was to be the City of the Party Rallies
. They created a link between the Nazi movement and Nuremberg's glorious past as Free City of the Empire. This is why they staged the annual NSDAP party rallies here ever year in September, up until 1938. Designed by Albert Speer, in the city's southern districts, the Party Rally Grounds
were erected as a huge parade ground on an area of 24.5 hectares. Zeppelin Field and Zeppelin Grandstand, the unfinished Congress Hall and a large excavation intended for the planned German Stadium are what remains in the city, as the monstrous stone legacy left behind by this regime of terror.
The Documentation Centre Party Rally Grounds, includes the permanent exhibition Fascination and Terror
which deals with the causes, contexts and consequences of the National Socialist rule of terror. The focus of the 19 exhibition areas is on topics which relate directly to Nuremberg, arranged in chronological order. Topics include the history of the party rallies, the buildings on the Party Rally Grounds, the Nuremberg Racial Laws
of 1935, the Nuremberg Trial
of the main war criminals responsible for Nazi crimes in 1945 and the twelve follow-up trials.
A information system with 23 units gives on-the-spot information about the historical grounds, making individual tours of the former Party Rally Grounds possible.
Hours: Monday to Friday: 9 am - 6pm, Saturday and Sunday: 10am - 6pm, last admission 5pm.
Admission: Adults 5 €, Concessions 2.50 €, Families 5.50 € - 10.50 €.
Germanische Nationalmuseum (GNM)
[ source: Wikipedia ]
The museum's collection comprises over 1.2 million objects, making it Germany's largest museum of cultural history, as well as the National Museum of the Federal Republic. A Carthusian monastry with cloister, church and monks' dwellings forms the architectural core of today's museum. The magnificent Schüsselfelder Ship, the sculpture of Veit Stoss and Tilman Riemenschneider and the only seven paintings by Albrecht Dürer still to be found in Nuremberg are stunning highlights of the art of the German world circa 1500.
Of particular appeal to visitors of all ages are the imposing suits of armor in the collection of historical weapons and armor, the toy collection with its rare and wonderful doll houses and one of the world's foremost collections of historical musical instruments.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10am - 6pm, Wednesday: 10am - 9pm.
Admission: Adults 6 € Concessions 4 €, Families 9 €.
German Railway Museum (DB Museum im Verkehrsmuseum)
[ source: Museum website ]
The DB Museum, opened in 1899 as Royal Bavarian Railway Museum, is Germany's oldest railway museum. Today, as museum of the Deutsche Bahn AG, together with the Museum of Communication, it forms the Nuremberg Traffic Museum. Exhibits include about 40 historic rail vehicles, among them the legendary Adler (Eagle) locomotive. In addition to numerous special exhibitions and events, the museum's main attraction is the Experience Area
of 1,000 square metres.
Hours: Tuesday - Friday: 9am - 5pm, Saturday and Sunday: 10am - 6pm. During the Christmas Market and Toy Fair also open on Mondays from 9am - 5pm.
Admission: Adults 4 €, Concessions 3 €, Children (6-14) 2 €, Families (2 adults + 4 children) 8 €.
Albrecht Dürer's House
This house presents the residence and workplace of Germany's most famous artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528). Special attractions include a painting and printing workshop from Dürer's time, where various artistic techniques are demonstrated. The lady of the house herself, Agnes Dürer, guides visitors through her house by audio-guide (in five languages), telling them much about the everyday life in this artist's household. By special request, she even appears in person (played by an actress) to guide grown-ups or children through the house.
Hours: Tuesday - Sunday: 10 am - 5pm, Thursday: 10am - 8pm, July to September and during the Christmas Market also Monday: 10am - 5pm.
Admission: Adults 5 €, Concessions 2.50 €, Families 5.50 € - 10.50 €.
Nuremberg Zoo
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Nuremberg Zoo, with its craggy sandstone and century-old trees, surrounded by idyllic marsh and meadow landscapes, is one of Europe's largest and most beautiful zoos. About 2000 animals from 300 species are presented in near-natural surroundings. In addition, Nuremberg Zoo can boast the only Dolphin House in Southern Germany. Seven dolphins and five sea lions can be seen here at close quarters.
Hours: Mid March to early October: 8am - 7:30 pm. Early October to mid March: 9am - 5pm.
Admission: Adults 8.50 €, Concessions 7 €, Children 4.20 €, Family card 20 €. Extra fees for entrance to the Dophinarium.
St. Lorenz Church
[ source: Wikipedia ]
St. Lorenz is one of the most important medieval churches of the former free imperial city of Nuremberg. It is dedicated to Saint Lawrence. The building of this basilica in high gothic style started between 1243 and 1315. The western façade between the two steeples is decorated with a rosette window and can be dated via the joint coats of arms of Charles IV and his third wife Anna von Schweidnitz who were married in 1353. It was badly damaged during the Second World War and later rebuilt. The interior contains important works of art, including numerous epitaphs, stone and wooden sculptures, and most remarkably the tabernacle by Adam Kraft (1493/96), the Annunciation with corresponding chandelier by Veit Stoß (1517/18), the Deocarus Altar (1437) and the Krell Altar (1483). The choir of the church, which is also called St. Laurentius
in texts on Gothic Architecture, was started in 1445 by medieval master mason Konrad Roriczer.
Hours: Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5pm, Sunday: 1pm - 4pm.
St. Sebaldus Church
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Along with Frauenkirche (Our Lady's Church) and St. Lorenz, St. Sebaldus Church (St. Sebald, Sebalduskirche) is one of the most important churches of the city, and also one of the oldest. It is located at the Albrecht-Dürer-Platz, in front of the old city hall. It takes its name from Sebaldus, an 8th century hermit and missionary and patron saint of Nuremberg. It has been a Lutheran parish church since the Reformation.
Building work for the first late Romanesque pillared basilica started in 1230/40. The church was awarded the title of Parish Church
as early as in 1255. It can be assumed that the church was completed by 1274/75. In the mid 17th century, the church interior was re-styled in the Baroque manner and galleries were added. After comprehensive damage during World War II, reconstruction started and in some sections is still continuing today. The exterior is richly decorated with sculptures. The most remarkable pieces are the Schreyer-Landauer epitaph by Adam Kraft (1490/92) and the various portals.
The rich interior dates back to the 14th to 16th century, including the Shrine of St. Sebaldus, works by Veit Stoß and the glass painting on the windows. Most works of art were endowed by Nuremberg Patrician families.
Hours: January - March 9am - 4:30pm. April and May: 9:30am - 6pm. June - September 15: 9:30am - 8pm. September 16 - December: 9:30am - 6pm.
Frauenkirche (Our Lady's Church)
[ source: Wikipedia ]
Emperor Charles IV had the Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche) built here between 1355 and 1358 on the site of the destroyed synagogue of the former Jewish quarter (pogrom in 1349). It was the first Gothic hall church in Franconia, constructed as an Imperial court chapel with three aisles. Its builder was presumably Peter Parler, the master builder of the Prague St Vitus' Cathedral. In 1361, on the occasion of the baptism of the heir to the throne, the Imperial Crown Jewels were displayed here for the first time. The Männleinlaufen
(Running Men
clockworks (daily at noon), created in 1509 by Sebastian Lindenast and Georg Heuß, is reminiscent of the proclamation of the Golden Bull of 1356: seven electors pay homage to Emperor Charles IV sitting on the throne.
The main altar is the Tucher Altar
which was the high altar in the Augustine Church up until 1487. The epitaphs, most of which are from the Dominican's and the Augustine's churches, include works by Adam Kraft (Peringsdörfer epitaph) and by Michael Wolgemut. In 1816, the Church of Our Lady's was given to Nuremberg's Catholic congregation.
Hours: Monday to Thursday and Saturday: 9am - 6pm. Friday: 9am - 5pm. Sunday and holidays: 12:30 - 6:30pm.
Related Sites
We collected some useful links related to Nuremberg. If you know a few more sites not listed here, or also know some insider tips or point of interests for this destination? Please share and submit your Germany travel tip. If approved it will be shown on this page!
- Homepage of Nuremberg: Nuremberg (official home page)
- Wikipedia: Nuremberg
More about the History of Nuremberg
Middle Ages
From 1050 to 1571, the city expanded and rose dramatically in importance due to its location on key trade routes. It is often referred to as having been the 'unofficial capital' of the Holy Roman Emperor, particularly because Reichstage (Imperial Diets) and courts met at Nuremberg Castle. The Diets of Nuremberg were an important part of the administrative structure of the empire. In 1219 Nuremberg became an Imperial Free City under Emperor Frederick II. Nuremberg soon became, with Augsburg (Augsburg vacation rentals | Augsburg travel guide), one of the two great trade centers on the route from Italy to Northern Europe.
In 1298, the Jews of the town were accused of having desecrated the host and 698 were slain in one of the many Rintfleisch Massacres. Behind the massacre in 1298 was also the desire to combine the northern and southern parts of the city, which were divided by the Pegnitz River. Jews had been settled in that flood-prone area, but as the city leaders realized, this center of town was crucial to its future development. Hence, the Jewish population had to be removed. This area is now the place of the City Market, Frauenkirche and Rathaus (City Hall).
Early modern age
The cultural flowering of Nuremberg, in the 15th and 16th centuries, made it the center of the German Renaissance.
In 1525, Nuremberg accepted the Protestant Reformation, and in 1532, the religious Peace of Nuremberg, by which the Lutherans gained important concessions, was signed there. In 1632 during the Thirty Years' War, the city, occupied by the forces of Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, was besieged by the army of Imperial general Albrecht von Wallenstein. The city declined after the war and recovered its importance only in the nineteenth century, when it grew as an industrial center.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century Nuremberg was practically bankrupt. In 1806 with the Holy Roman Empire formally being dissolved, Nuremberg passed to Bavaria. The Bavarian state took over the city's debts and guaranteed their amortization.
The first German railway, from Nuremberg to nearby Fürth (Fürth vacation rentals | Fürth travel guide), was opened in 1835.
Nazi era
Nuremberg held great significance during the Nazi Germany era. Because of the city's relevance to the Holy Roman Empire and its position in the centre of Germany, the Nazi Party chose the city to be the site of huge Nazi Party conventionsthe Nuremberg rallies. The rallies were held annually from 1927 to 1938 in Nuremberg. After Hitler's rise to power in 1933 the Nuremberg rallies became huge state propaganda events, a center of Nazi ideals. At the 1935 rally, Hitler specifically ordered the Reichstag to convene at Nuremberg to pass the anti-Semitic Nuremberg Laws which revoked German citizenship for all Jews. A number of premises were constructed solely for these assemblies, some of which were not finished. Today many examples of Nazi architecture can still be seen in the city. The city was also the home of the Nazi propagandist Julius Streicher, the publisher of Der Stürmer.
During World War II, Nuremberg was the headquarters of Wehrkreis (military district) XIII, and an important site for military production, including airplanes, submarines, and tank engines. A subcamp of Flossenbürg (Flossenbürg vacation rentals | Flossenbürg travel guide) concentration camp was located here. Extensive use was made of slave labour. The city was severely damaged in Allied strategic bombing from 1943-1945. On January 2, 1945, the medieval city centre was systematically bombed by the Royal Air Force and the U.S. Army Air Forces and about ninety percent of it was destroyed in only one hour, with 1,800 residents killed and roughly 100,000 displaced. In February 1945, additional attacks followed. In total, about 6,000 Nuremberg residents are estimated to have been killed in air raids. Despite this, the city was rebuilt after the war and was to some extent, restored to its pre-war appearance including the reconstruction of some of its medieval buildings.
Nuremberg Trials
Between 1945 and 1946, German officials involved in the Holocaust and other war crimes were brought before an international tribunal in the Nuremberg Trials. The Soviet Union had wanted these trials to take place in Berlin (Berlin vacation rentals | Berlin travel guide), but Nuremberg was chosen as the site for the trials for specific reasons:
- It was located in the American occupation zone
- The Palace of Justice was spacious and largely undamaged (one of the few that had remained largely intact despite extensive Allied bombing of Germany). The already large courtroom was reasonably easily expanded by the removal of the wall at the end opposite the bench, thereby incorporating the adjoining room. A large prison was also part of the complex.
- The city had been the location of the Nazi Party's Nuremberg rallies and the laws stripping Jews of their citizenship were passed there. There was symbolic value in making it the place of Nazi demise.
- As a compromise, it was agreed that Berlin would become the permanent seat of the International Military Tribunal and that the first trial (several were planned) would take place in Nuremberg. Due to the Cold War, subsequent trials never took place.
The same courtroom in Nuremberg was the venue of the Nuremberg Military Tribunals, organized by the United States as occupying power in the area.
[ source: wikipedia ]
What makes this Live Like a German Nuremberg Travel Guide special...
This Nuremberg travel guide provides you with an overview of Nuremberg, Nuremberg pictures, and a local travel guide that suggests many special trips, unique activities, and vacation ideas, that you can't find in a typical Germany travel guide.
Some of this information is compiled from popular and well-known sources (e.g., such as Wikipedia, Wikitravel, and great pictures from Flickr). However, what makes this Germany travel guide special is that most of the travel suggestions and insider tips are provided by local residents, property owners, and our readers, who share and submit their travel tips with us. All submissions are then editorially reviewed to ensure high quality. All this information is logically organized within this destination guide to make it easy for you to find things quickly.
In addition, the Nuremberg destination guide features restaurant recommendations, restaurant reviews, where to go for grocery shopping, sports activities, getting around, cultural events and highlights, entertainment, and health related information - so you are informed for your travel to Germany, and you can learn about all the cool things you can do during your Germany vacation!
