Things to do in Nuremberg
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Verkehrsmuseum
Nuremberg's Verkehrsmuseum combines two major exhibits under one roof: the Deutsche Bahn Museum (German Railway Museum) and the Museum für Kommunikation (Museum of Telecommunications). The former explores the origins and history of Germany's legendary railway system; the latter showcases development in telecommunications, including historic telephones dating back over 100 years.
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Nuremberg Trials Courthouse
Nazis were tried for crimes against peace and humanity in the Schwurgerichtssaal 600 (Courtroom 600). The Allies chose Nuremberg for obvious symbolic reasons. The building was also easily accessible and one of few such complexes to survive the war intact. Held between 1945 and 1946, 22 leaders and 150 underlings were convicted; dozens were executed.
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Bratwursthäusle
Seared over a flaming beech-wood grill, the little links sold at this rustic inn arguably set the standards for Rostbratwürste across the land. You can dine in the timbered restaurant or on the terrace with views of the Hauptmarkt.
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Reichsparteitagsgelände
Nuremberg's role during the Third Reich is emblazoned in minds around the world through the images of rapturous Nazi supporters thronging the city's streets to salute their Führer. The rallies at the Reichsparteitagsgelände were part of an orchestrated propaganda campaign that began as early as 1927 to garner support for the NSDAP, which had a strong following in Nuremberg. In 1933, the party planned a ridiculously large purpose-built complex in the southeastern Luitpoldhain suburb.
In doing this Nazi leaders hoped to establish a metaphorical link between Nuremberg's illustrious past as Reichstagstadt (where parliament met during the Holy Roman Empire) and the Third Rei…
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Hauptmarkt
This bustling square in the heart of the Altstadt is the site of daily markets as well as the famous Christkindlesmarkt. At the eastern end is the ornate Gothic Pfarrkirche Unsere Liebe Frau (1350-58), also known as simply the Frauenkirche. The work of Prague cathedral builder Peter Parler, it's the oldest Gothic hall church in Bavaria and stands on the ground of Nuremberg's first synagogue.
The western façade is beautifully ornamented and is where, every day at noon, crowds crane their necks to witness a spectacle called Männleinlaufen. It features seven figures, representing electoral princes, parading clockwise three times around Emperor Karl IV to chimed accompanime…
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Landgericht Nürnberg-Fürth
Nazis were tried in 1945 to 1946 for crimes against peace and humanity in Schwurgerichtssaal 600 (Court Room 600) of what is today the Landgericht Nürnberg-Fürth. The Allies held the trials in Nuremberg for obvious symbolic reasons, in addition to the fact that there was (and still is) a secure underground tunnel between the courthouse and adjacent prison (though today it only has female prisoners).
The initial and most famous trial, conducted by international prosecutors, saw 24 people accused, of which 19 were convicted and sentenced. Following trials also resulted in the conviction, sentencing and execution of Nazi leaders and underlings until 1949. Hermann Göring, t…
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Tiergärtnerplatz
Ringed by charming half-timbered houses, the eastern edge of Tiergärtnerplatz is graced by the beautiful Pilatushaus. Out front is Jürgen Goertz's 1984 bronze sculpture Der Hase - Hommage á Dürer (The Hare - A Tribute to Dürer). This nod to Dürer's watercolour original called Junger Feldhase (1502) shows the dire results of tampering with nature.
During WWII, prescient officials moved key artworks to the Historischer Kunstbunker (historical art shelter), a network of caves underneath the Kaiserburg, as early as 1940. This was technically a form of resistance, since Hitler forbade such 'defeatist' thinking. There's also a film of the bombing of Nuremberg. Tours also …
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Deutsche Bahn Museum
Nuremberg's impressive Deutsche Bahn Museum explores the history of Germany's legendary rail system. You'll see the country's first engine, the Adler, which ran from Nuremberg to nearby Fürth in 1852. Other fine specimens include Ludwig II's gilded carriage (dubbed the 'rolling Neuschwanstein' for its starry ceiling fresco and lavish decoration) and Bismarck's sober quarters for official visits. A highlight is the hourly demonstration of one of Germany's largest model railways, run by a controller at a huge console of blinking lights and switches.
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Germanisches Nationalmuseum
One of the most important museums of German culture with over 1.3 million items (not all of which are displayed), the Germanisches Nationalmuseum is strangely underrated and undervisited. It features an archaeological collection, arms and armour, musical and scientific instruments and toys - but the jewel in its crown is the art section. This varied exhibit not only boasts exquisite paintings, but also sculpture, historical garments, porcelain and glass objects. Long-running renovation work at the museum means some sections may be closed.
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St Sebalduskirche
Nuremberg's oldest church was built in the 13th-century. Its exterior is replete with religious sculptures and symbols. Check out the ornate carvings over the Bridal Doorway to the north, showing the Wise and Foolish Virgins. Inside, the bronze shrine of St Sebald (Nuremberg's own saint) is a Gothic and Renaissance masterpiece that took its maker, Peter Vischer the Elder, and his two sons more than 11 years to complete.(Vischer is in it too, sporting a skullcap.)
Tours of the church's tower are by prior arrangement only.
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Lorenzkirche
Lorenzkirche is chock-full of artistic highlights. Check out the 15th-century tabernacle in the left aisle - the delicate carved strands wind up to the vaulted ceiling. Remarkable also are the stained glass (including a rose window 9m in diameter) and Veit Stoss' Engelsgruss (Annunciation), a wooden carving with life-size figures, suspended above the high altar. North of the church, the Tugendbrunnen (1589) is a fountain featuring the seven Virtues with a figure of Justice looking on.
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Felsengänge
Under the Albrecht Dürer Monument on Albrecht-Dürer-Platz are four storeys of dank passageways called the Felsengänge. Burrowed into the sandstone in the 14th century to house a brewery and beer cellar, they also served as an air-raid shelter during WWII. Down in the tunnels, which can only be seen on a tour, things can get pretty chilly even in summer, so take a jacket. Buy tickets from the brewpub Hausbrauerei Altstadthof.
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Ehekarussell Brunnen
At the foot of the fortified Weisser Turm (White Tower; now the gateway to the U-Bahn station of the same name) stands the dramatic Ehekarussell Brunnen, a remarkable metallic fountain with six timeless interpretations of marriage based on a verse by medieval cobbler-poet Hans Sachs. Further east, another modern fountain, the Peter-Henlein-Brunnen on Hefnerplatz, is dedicated to the 16th-century tinkerer credited with making the first pocket watch.
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Dokumentationszentrum
A visit to the Dokumentationszentrum in the north wing of the Kongresshalle helps to put the grounds into some historical context. A stunning walkway of glass cuts diagonally through the complex, ending with an interior view of the congress hall. Inside, the exhibit Fascination and Terror examines the rise of the NSDAP, the Hitler cult, the party rallies and the Nuremberg Trials. Don't miss it.
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Stadtmuseum Fembohaus
Set in an ornate 16th-century merchant house, the Stadtmuseum Fembohaus provides an entertaining overview of Nuremberg's 950-year history against the backdrop of the restored historic rooms of this 16th-century merchant house. The most innovative part of the museum, a flashy multimedia show called 'Noricama', is a both dramatic and witty 52-minute dash through the main events that have shaped the city.
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Jüdisches Museum Franken in Fürth
A quick U-Bahn ride away in the neighbouring town of Fürth is the Jüdisches Museum Franken in Fürth. Fürth once had the largest Jewish congregation of any city in southern Germany, and this museum, housed in a handsomely restored building, chronicles the history of Jewish life in the region from the Middle Ages to today. To reach the museum, take the U1 to the Rathaus stop in Fürth.
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Tucherbräu
Traditional Bavarian cooking is big in Nuremberg. It's a bit on the pricey side, but the best reason to head into this rambling traditional restaurant - aside from its excellent Bavarian and handful of international dishes - is the countrified beer garden hidden out the back, which feels far from the hubbub of the city. Service is attentive and it's handily situated near the Hauptbahnhof.
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Church of St Lawrence
Lorenzerplatz is dominated by the massive Lorenzkirche (Church of St Lawrence). Nuremberg's once-competing Catholics were split into factions north and south of the river; the latter made a statement with this massive 15th-century church crammed with artistic treasures. Highlights include the stained-glass windows and Veit Stoss' Engelsgruss (Annunciation).
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Marientorzwinger
[ourpick] Marientorzwinger This is the last remaining Zwinger eatery (taverns built between the inner and outer walls when they relinquished their military use) in Nuremberg. Chomp on sturdy Franconian staples or a vegie dish in the simple wood-panelled dining room or the leafy beer garden, and swab the decks with a yard of Fürth-brewed Tucher.
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Historischer Kunstbunker
Historischer Kunstbunker is a climate-controlled bomb shelter used to protect art treasures during WWII. Works by Albrecht Dürer, sculptor Veit Stoss and Martin Behaim, the maker of a bafflingly accurate 15th-century globe, were kept safe here from the allied bombs raining down on the city. Tickets are only available from the Hausbrauerei Altstadthof.
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Neues Museum
Housed in a spectacularly incongruous building with an all-glass facade, the Neues Museum has the panache of a museum devoted to art and design. The upper floor displays contemporary art (mostly abstracts) while the lower showcases major developments in design since 1945. For a free peek at the exhibits, just stand in the courtyard outside.
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Beautiful Fountain
Standing like a space probe on the northwest corner of the square is the 19m (62ft) Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain). A replica of the late 14th-century original, it is a stunning golden vision of 40 electors, religious heroes and other allegorical figures. The original, made of badly eroded sandstone, stands in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum.
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Staatstheater
Nuremberg's magnificent Staatstheater serves up an impressive mix of dramatic arts. The renovated art nouveau opera house presents opera and ballet, while the Kammerspiele offers a varied program of classical and contemporary plays. Tickets are available at the box office or by calling [tel] 231 3808. The Nürnberger Philharmoniker also performs here.
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Old City Hall
The Altes Rathaus (Old City Hall) is a clutch of buildings erected between the 14th and 17th century. The main Wolff building is a hulk of a thing with lovely Renaissance-style interiors. Beneath it you'll find the gory Medieval Dungeons (Lochgefängnisse). The 12 small cells and torture chamber might easily put you off lunch.
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Albrecht-Dürer-Haus
Germany's most famous Renaissance draughtsman, Dürer lived and worked at what is now known as the Albrecht-Dürer-Haus from 1509 till his death in 1528. Several originals and copies of his graphic works are on display, and a multimedia version of Agnes, his wife, takes visitors through the master's recreated workshop.
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