Visit Nuremberg

Nuremberg Castle. The castle dominates the north-western corner of Nuremberg's old town. In the west (on the right, when coming from the city) the castle starts with Luginsland tower. Between it and the five-cornered tower is the Kaiserstallung. It was built in 1495 in only one year and served originally as a storehouse for grain. Today it is used as a youth hostel. The five-cornered tower was constructed before 1050 and is the oldest building of the castle and city. Further east are the entry to the castle garden and the castle gate. Through the castle gate one gets to the Freiung, where you can enjoy one of the best views of the old town. If you want to look further you can climb the round tower (Sinwellturm) in the first court of the castle. There you also find the deep well (Tiefer Brunnen). In the main court is the Kemenate on the right and the Palas on the left side. The Palas houses the castle museum, further rooms including the two-storey chapel can be seen on a guided tour.

City Walls. Originally Nuremberg's city wall had a length of five kilometers and five gates: Laufer, Spittler-, Frauen-, Neu- und Tiergärtner Tor. From the 13th to the 16th century the wall was continuously strengthened and is one of the reasons why the city withstood all attacks during this time. Nearly four kilometers of the wall are still standing. Only on the east side between the main station and Rathenauplatz are large gaps. The city moat, which was never filled with water, still exists in its full wide for about two kilometers. .

Castle Quarter (Burgviertel). Numerous old buildings here survived the war. The street Fuell with its sand stone houses is a typical merchant's street. The craftsmen lived in timber-framed houses, many of which have been restored in Weissgerbergasse. More timber-framed houses can be seen in Obere and Untere Kraemersgasse. In Untere Kraemersgasse 16 you can often look into the tiny courtyard.

St Sebald Church (Sebalduskirche). Built from the 13th to 15th century. In the center of the church is the grave of the city saint, depicting scenes of his life.

St Lawrence Church (Lorenzkirche). Built from the 13th to 15th century. Among its many treasures are the Tabernacel by Adam Kraft and the Greeting Angels by Veit Stoss.

Nurembergs Underworld (Nürnberger Felsengänge), Bergstraße 19. For many hundreds of years, the sandstone bedrock of Nuremberg's castle hill has been riddled with vaulted cellars and "secret" passageways. Rock-Cut Beer Cellars, Casemates, Water Supply Conduits and World War II Art Bunker. The total square footage today known 20.000 m2.

Way of Human Rights (Straße der Menschenrechte). A monumental outdoor sculpture, opened on October 24, 1993. It is sited on the street between the new and old buildings of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, connecting Kornmarkt street and the medieval city wall.

St. John. The old suburb west of the old town is best seen on a 30-minute walk from Tiergärtnertor to Hallertor. Still within the walls, the house opposite Dürerhaus is called the house of Pilate. It is the start of the way to St. Johns church, with stations of the cross made by Veit Stoss. Follow this way through the gate, across the main street and turn left. At the next street (Burgschmietstrasse), turn right and follow it until it joins Johannisstrasse which leads us along a few remaining timber-framed houses to St. John's cemetery. Many famous citizen of Nuremberg are buried here. After visiting the cemetery, turn right into Lindengasse, then left into the small alley called Riesenschritt. Here are the entrances to some restored baroque gardens. These small gardens are called Hesperidengaerten. At the lower end of Risenschritt you may wander through the romantic lanes of Gross- and Kleinweidenmuehle. Finally walk through the park along the river back into the city.

Reich Party Rally Grounds (Reichsparteitagsgelände), Bayernstraße 110. Soon after they came to power in 1933 the Nazis designated Nuremberg as place for their annual party rallies. To demonstrate their power they planned a set of gigantic buildings. Only a fraction of these were actually built, including a colossal Congress Hall and the reviewing stand at the Zeppelin field. The actual rally grounds cover a large area, if you want to tour the area plan to spend one or two hours. It is advisable to start with a visit of the Documentation Center (museum in the stadium wall - see Museums below). In regards to the Grosser Strasse, unless you want a long walk there is nothing really interesting to see other than a modern long road. A couple industrial businesses are located along the road, as well as a couple footpaths for wooded trails around the lake.

Zoo (Tiergarten), Am Tiergarten 30. The Nuremberg Tiergarten is one of the most beautiful zoos in europe. Located in a beautiful landscape on the Schmausenbuck Hill in the Nuremberg borough Zerzabelshof (Zabo). The Tiergarten get on the top of media interest, when the polar bear baby Flocke (Snowflake)were born in December 2007. The zoo is set in old quarries in the large forest at the eastern edge of the city.

Kraftshof Village Church. In the middle ages only towns had the right to build a wall, villages were unprotected against raiding troops. Therefore many villages built walls around the church yard. Kraftshof is a good example. From Kraftshof it is a 30 minutes stroll to Neunhof.

Neunhof Manor, (Schloss Neunhof), Neunhofer Hauptstraße. Nuremberg's patricians had numerous manor houses in the surrounding villages. This is a good example, built in the 16th century. Adjoining is a small baroque garden.

Museums

Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Kartäusergasse 1. One of the largest museum of art and crafts in the German-speaking countries.

Transportation Museum (Verkehrsmuseum), Lessingstraße 6. This museum contains two collection the DB Museum (museum of the national railway) and the Museum for Communication. The railway museum displays the development of railways in Germany from the beginnings in 1835 to today. It has a collection of historic stock and a large model railroad. Its children's areas makes it a good place to visit for families. The museum for communication displays the history of mail and telecommunications.

New Museum, Klarissenplatz. Museum showing art and design from 1945 to today.

Medieval Dungeons, Rathausplatz 2 (Near the main market square). Medieval prison and torture museum under the city hall, open for guided tour only.

Courtroom 600 - Nuremberg Trials, Fürther Straße 110. Courtroom 600 can only be visited with a guided tour (supplemented by a short introductory film based on historical footage). The guided tours are in German, English information is also available.

Albrecht Dürer's House, Albrecht-Dürer-Straße 39. The house in which the painter Albrecht Dürer lived and worked from 1509 until 1528. Representative of a wealthy house of that period. Exhibition about life in the house and the way Dürer worked.

Documentation Center at the Reich Party Rally Grounds (Dokumentationszentrum Reichsparteitagsgelände), Bayernstraße 110. The Documentation Center is in the north wing of the Congress Hall of Reich Party Rally Grounds. Topics shown in the documentation centre are: How the Nazis rose to power, The organization of the party rallies - how the Nazis fascinated the masses, How the party rallies are connected to the Nazi crimes against minorities and to the world war. The audio guide (included with admission price) is highly recommended for non-German speakers (and Germans as well).

Toy Museum (Spielzeugmuseum), Karlstraße 13-15. Nuremberg was on of the centres of the German toy industry. The exhibition shows wooden and metal toys, dolls and doll houses, model railways and modern toys.

Fembohaus Citymuseum, Burgstraße 15. A merchant's house built about 1600. Exhibition about the history of the city.

Museum of Industrial Culture, Äußere Sulzbacher Straße 62. Exhibition about the industrial revolution, along a museum street you see how living conditions, social life and technology developed during the 19th century.

TO DO

Altstadtfest: The "Old Town Festival" in September attracts over a million visitors every year, making it the largest folklore event in Germany. The festival offers a broad programme of attractions including processions and concerts. There is also plenty to taste in terms of food and drink at the 'gastronomy market' and at numerous restaurants and beer gardens on Schütt Island and Hans-Sachs-Platz.