The city of Nuremberg is known for its old town with its imposing Imperial Castle, medieval half-timbered houses and picturesque alleyways. Tourists and locals particularly appreciate the Nürnberger Christkindles Markt, the Albrecht Dürer House and the many museums that bring the city's rich history to life. Nuremberg is a wonderful city to discover on a day trip.
The second largest city in Bavaria after Munich was first mentioned in documents almost 1000 years ago. In a historical document dated 16 July 1050, the release of a serf named Sigena was sealed by Emperor Henry III at the court in Nuremberg. Since then, this day has been recognised as the city's birthday.
Nuremberg was one of the most important cities in the Holy Roman Empire: it was the place where every newly elected German king would hold his first Imperial Diet and where the insignia of power were kept from 1424 to 1796. To fully appreciate the importance of Nuremberg in this era, it is important to realise that in the late Middle Ages, the Holy Roman Empire included not only Germany but also a large part of what is now the Benelux countries, the Netherlands and large parts of northern Italy.
The laws that applied in the empire were summarised in the Golden Bull. It was a kind of medieval constitution, most of which was written in Nuremberg. It also laid down the procedures for the election and coronation of Roman-German kings. Today, the document is kept in the Bayerisches Hauptstaatsarchiv (Bavarian Main State Archives) in Munich. It is on the World Document Heritage List.
In the late 15th and 16th centuries, the city experienced an economic and artistic heyday. World-famous artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Adam Kraft and Veit Stoß, humanists such as Willibald Pirckheimer and scientists such as the astronomer Johannes Regiomontanus lived and worked in the city.
The Thirty Years' War was followed by economic decline. After the dissolution of the empire in 1806, Nuremberg lost its status as a free imperial city and was incorporated into the Kingdom of Bavaria.
In the 19th century, Nuremberg became the leading industrial and labour city in southern Germany. The industrial boom began in 1835 with the first German railway journey between Nuremberg and Fürth.
After culturally fruitful years during the Weimar Republic, the National Socialists abused the romantic Nuremberg myth for their own ends in the 20th century. In the Third Reich, Nuremberg was the city of the Nazi Party Rallies and the place where the inhumane “Nuremberg Race Laws“ were enacted. The Allied bombing raids on the city were correspondingly heavy. The historic old town was 90 per cent destroyed. After the end of the war, the main war criminals of the Nazi terror regime stood before the international military tribunal in the “Nuremberg Trials“ in the court building on Fürther Straße. With the Documentation Centre Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Memorium Nuremberg Trials, the city now has two modern museums that deal with the history of Nuremberg under National Socialism.
Over the past 30 years in particular, a great deal of effort has been put into lovingly restoring the buildings that have been preserved. One of the best-preserved medieval alleyways with typical half-timbered architecture is Weißgerbergasse (alleyway). Visitors will find a romantic backdrop with historic bridges over the Pegnitz and buildings around the Henkersteg (bridge) and Weinstadel (vine stall).
Nuremberg is one of the few cities in Germany where the medieval city wall has been preserved. Above the old town towers the Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle), one of the most important imperial palaces of the Holy Roman Empire in the Middle Ages and the city's landmark. Underground, there is the extensive 700-year-old historic Nuremberg cellar labyrinth, which can be explored on guided tours. Below the castle is the Albrecht Dürer House, where the artist lived and worked from 1509. It remained undamaged by the war and is the only 16th century artist's house in Northern Europe. Today it is one of the city's most popular museums with exhibitions, guided tours and workshops.
The Gothic churches of St Lorenz and St Sebald display masterpieces of late Gothic sculpture by famous medieval sculptors such as Adam Kraft and Veit Stoß on their façades and in their interiors. The Hauptmarkt (Main Market Square) with the Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain) is Nuremberg's centrepiece. This is where the Nürnberger Christlindlesmarkt (Nuremberg Christmas Market) takes place, probably the most famous market of its kind in the world.
Anyone arriving at Nuremberg's main railway station will find the Handwerkerdorf (craftsmen's village) directly opposite, an ensemble of half-timbered houses where you can buy handicrafts and stop for a bite to eat. Just outside the city, but easy to reach by public transport, is the Nürnberger Tiergarten (Nuremberg Zoo).
With the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg has the largest cultural history museum in the German-speaking world with exhibits from early times to the present day. The Behaim Globe has also been on display there since 2023. It is the oldest surviving depiction of the earth in spherical form. The Neues Museum Nürnberg (New Museum Nuremberg) by architect Volker Staab, which opened in the historic centre of Nuremberg in 2000, shows how wonderfully contemporary architecture can be integrated into a historical setting. Art and design from the 1950s to the present day are exhibited on over 3000 square metres. In a magnificent merchant's house from the late Renaissance, the Fembo-House, you can learn all about Nuremberg's almost 1000-year history: from its heyday as a trading metropolis to the present day.
Nuremberg has always been synonymous with the manufacture of toys. Wooden toys, pewter figures, doll's kitchens, shops and especially tin toys were manufactured in Nuremberg. Today, the largest international toy fair is held here once a year. The Spielzeugmuseum (Toy Museum) displays both old and new toy treasures such as Lego, Barbie, Playmobil and Matchbox. In the DB Museum Nuremberg, you can experience the entire world of the railway with modern trains and historic railways, such as a replica of Germany's most famous steam locomotive: the Adler. Another highlight is the DB Museum's model railway with its 500 metres of track.
Train connection: about 1hour and 10 minutes. More information under bahn.de
Car: about 2 hours via the A9 motorway
