Traveling to Nuremberg, Germany

Sights and Interests in Nuremberg, Germany

With a 2007 population of 500,000, Nuremberg sits on the Pegnitz River in the state of Bavaria about 100 miles north of Munich. Best known for the Nuremberg trials, this ancient Bavarian city has historical significance dating back to the Holy Roman Empire.

Nuremberg has a medieval city center that was mostly destroyed in a 1945 attack; however it has been painstakingly restored and has taken the city a long way towards reestablishing the city's romantic character.

There are many architectural sights to be seen in Nuremberg, starting with the Nuremberg castle, which towers over the city and actually includes three separate castles. The old city center features the Hauptmarkt, a picturesque main square that contains the ornate and much photographed Schoner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain). It is also a famous market for the local delicacy, gingerbread, which can be bought in any of the small bakeries in the main square and elsewhere. There are also some notable stone merchant houses and timber framed houses in the old town.

The principal shopping area is in the southern part of the old town, which also features the old city walls and multiple towers. Handicrafts are sold at a medieval marketplace along the city walls. There are also numerous old churches inside the city walls including the Frauenkirche, a magnificently ornate structure begun in 1360, right on the Hauptmarkt. Also in Nuremberg are several fine museums, notably the German National Museum, which actually houses the original Schoner Brunnen (the one in the Market Square is a replica).

You can also visit the Nuremberg Palace of Justice where the trials of Nazi war criminals were held after World War II, along with the Nazi party rally grounds, a massive open area featuring Third Reich architecture.

By Chuck Weiss