German Christmas Markets (#7): Nurnberg, Introduction

The city lies in the sandy plain of the central Franconian basin and is sometimes referred to as the "secret capital" of Bavaria and is in fact with its 500,000 inhabitants the second largest city in that state. The river Pegnitz divides the old town into its Sebald and Lorenz districts so named after the town's two main churches. Above both rises its medieval castle, the city's "crown" so to speak, reposing on its craggy hill. Perhaps just because the soil around is unfavorable to agricultural pursuits, Nuremberg has developed rather from the hard work and business sense its citizens have possessed, characteristics which were present even in the Middle Ages and which have contributed to making the city one of Germany's most important centers.
The name Nuremberg itself calls to mind Lebkuchen and roasted sausage, toys, The Meistersingers, the Nuremberg Trichter, its Christkindlmarkt, Gothic art treasures, its mighty city walls and far-off Reichstags, but also perhaps its most recent history with its Nazi Reichsparteitags, the Nuremberg Laws and the trial of top Nazi criminals. However that may be, the attraction the city has - and it has over a million people staying within its walls per year - lies perhaps in its contrasts, contrasts between that which has been preserved and that which has newly come into being as reconstruction of older cultural heritage and also from the contemporary living spirit of the town.

A Tour round Old Nuremberg

For a medieval city, Nuremberg is an enormously extensive town and all the many places of interest which are distributed throughout the old part of the city are too numerous to be covered in one day and so must, unfortunately, remain undiscovered. For this reason, then, any "little tour" which has the day tourist in mind, has to limit itself in the main to the "musts" which, as well as our suggested tour, also include visits to the interior of both principal churches, that of St. Sebald and St Lorenz.

Strictly speaking, only those who are able to spend several days in this Franconian metropolis can gain a comprehensive impression of the cultural heritage either created here or brought here. Any tour can therefore be referred to as an "extended tour" and to this above all belong a visit to the castle interior, a number of museums, the Egidien Quarter (Egidienviertel) and the cemeteries which lie outside the city wall which one can visit if one wishes by car.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Germany
• Christmas
• Weihnachten
• Weihnachtmarkt
• Christmas Market
• Southern Germany
• Bavaria
• Travel
• Rozylowicz
• Nurenberg
• Nurnberger
• Nurnberg
• St Sebaldus
• Hauptmarkt
• Pegnitz River
• Kinderweihnacht
• Alt Stadt