====== Nuremberg ====== Nuremberg - that's with half a million inhabitants Bavaria's second largest city and ranks high among the world's most livable towns. It had always been a center of politics - in the Middle Ages it was preferred residence of German Emperors and later Nuremberg Germany became burdened by the legacy of the Nazis. Although bombed to rubble in WWII, the medieval city center with its main buildings had been reconstructed, using the original stone. Packed with sights Nuremberg Germany is one of the biggest tourist draws today. The pulse of the city beats at the market square Hauptmarkt - that lively place is dominated by the beautiful Church Frauenkirche and the Gothic fountain Schöner Brunnen, one of the most visited sights in Nuremberg Germany. In December it gets really crowded there, because then it's time for the world famous Christmas market Christkindlesmarkt! For many people Nuremberg is most known for its specialities like those little sausages and gingerbread, but did you know that between Nuremberg and Fürth the first German railway line was opened in 1835? Nuremberg was also home to some great personalities such as the poet Hans Sachs, the painter Albrecht Dürer, Martin Behaim who built the first Globus here or Peter Henlein, who made the first pocket clock. ===== How to get there & local transport ===== * Nuremberg has got a local airport, which can be easily reached by train (S-Bahn) * There's a good developed traffic network in Nuremberg - you can use S-Bahn and U-Bahn ===== Tourist information (offices etc.) ===== * The office of the tourist information Nuremberg can be found at Hauptmarkt 18 * Another Tourist Information is at Königstraße 93 (Tel.: +49 911/23 36 132) ===== City tours ===== * Tours through the Old Town (Altstadt) start dayly at the main square Hauptmarkt ([[http://www.christkindlesmarkt.de/|Christkindlesmarkt]]) * Other tours start at Hallplatz (an der Mauthalle) and end after ca. 2,5 hours at the Hauptmarkt * Discovering Nuremberg - The Walking Tour through the Old Town offers information and insights on the castle, the fountains and wells, churches and art as well as the city itself past and present (www.nuernberg-tours.de). Daily 1 pm, meeting point Tourist Office at the Hauptmarkt. ===== Sights ===== The main sights of Nuremberg, the churches like Sebaldus and St. Lorenz, romantic half-timbered houses in the castle quarter, cobblestoned squares and the majestic Nuremburg Kaiserburg Castle create a nice medieval atmosphere in the Old Town, which is almost completely surrounded by a five kilometers long historic city wall from the 15th/16th century. * To the major sights belongs the landmark of Nuremberg, the mighty Imperial Castle Kaiserburg, which was used between 1050 to 1571 by every emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. Visit the residencial quarters, the Knights's Halls, the Romanesque chapel, the Deep Well, the Sinwell Tower (can be climbed!) and the castle museum. * Historical sights Nuremberg Germany: Visit the Nazi party rally grounds, a huge site with monumental buildings where the Nazi party rallies were held and Hitler's troops had their parades. The never finished Congress Hall was meant to be the focal point at a planned size of 1,5 times the size of Rome's Colosseum, nowadays it houses the documentation center. * Sights in Nuremberg Germany: The wooden bridge Henkersteg, the Tiergärtnerplatz with the Dürerhaus, the municipal museum Fembohaus offering a multimedia show about Nuremberg, the New Museum and the Germanische Nationalmuseum. Not to forget on your tour: turn the golden ring at the Schöner Brunnen three times and any wish will come true! * To the interesting sights of Nuremberg Germany belongs the courthouse of the Nuremberg Trials at Fürther Straße 110, access only on guided tours * One of the sights in Nuremberg Germany is the fountain Ehebrunnen at Tower Weißer Turm at the end of shopping street Breite Gasse ===== Activities ===== * Join a guided tour through the medieval dungeons (Lochgefängnisse) in the Old Town Hall or discover the subterranean warren of the Felsengänge with rock-cut beer cellars and World War II bunkers on a tour starting at Albrecht Dürer Platz * Nuremberg comes up with lots of parks and green spots along the river Pegnitz. Nice locations are the Wöhrder Wiese and the lake Wöhrder See or the Pegnitzgrund, offering nice options for cycling, skating or just relaxing in one of the many beer gardens. ===== Activities with kids ===== * The Zoo of Nuremberg ([[http://www.tiergarten.nuernberg.de|Tiergarten Nürnberg]]) is always a good idea to visit. It's a nice and big one and offers lots of fun for kids - find a petting zoo, a little train for children, a big playground and more. * As the toy city Nuremberg is renowned in the world for toy fairs, the toy museum in Nuremberg is a must-see for children and for those who have remained so. ===== Must Do's ===== ===== Day trips ===== * Make a day trip to the nature around Nuremberg: it's just half an hour to the mountains / hills of Fränkische Schweiz or Hersbrucker Schweiz - that region is perfect for hiking, cycling and walking. * [[Rothenburg o.d.T.]] is just about one hour away (104km), so head for that awesome medieval city on the Romantic Road. * Another idea is to follow the Castle Road to the beautiful World Heritage city of [[Bamberg]], 60km away * You could also make trips to the cities [[Würzburg]] and [[Regensburg]]. ===== Museums ===== * Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg - is one of Europe's largest and greatest museums. * Spielzeugmuseum Nürnberg ===== Galleries & Exhibitions ===== ===== Theater & Opera ===== ===== Restaurants ===== * restaurant "Luftsprung" offers delicious food - especially soups- in a appealing atmosphere right next to the river Pegnitz * Paradiso with the adjoining beer garden is an insider tip among people living in Nuremberg * Blauer Adler is another famous meeting point ===== Going out for Brunch ===== * restaurant and bar "Raum und Zeit" offers a wide variety of food for brunch * many people love to meet for brunch at "Alex", right at the edge of "Christkindles Markt" (where the famous christmas market can be found during x-mas-time) ===== Cafés ===== ===== Bars & Lounges ===== * Parkcafe Nürnberg: Find that Lounge & Cocktailbar in the municipal park of Nuremberg. They often offer events like 80's parties and have good Thaifood. ===== Discotheques ===== * BA Hotel * Club Stereo * Hirsch * Nachtpalais * Loop * Mach1 * Planet * Rakete * Rockfabrik * Stars & Stairs ===== Events ===== * Rock im Park - it's one of the big events for music fans and takes place every year at Pentecost. About 90 bands and DJ's play on those two days. * Every year in the summer the Classic Open Air takes place in Nuremberg Luitpoldhain. It's a great spectacle for classic lovers and it can even be visited for free! * Every year on a weekend in summer: DTM (German Street Car Championships) Formel 3 race Norisring in Nuremberg at the Dutzendteich * Almost all museums in Nuremberg can be visited for free at "Blaue Nacht" (blue night) ===== Shopping ===== * Nuremberg has a nice car-free shopping zone ===== Accomodation =====