"Nuremberg" a Nürnberg Travel Page by antistar

It's easy to overlook what is in your own backyard. There are so many places to see and there will always be a weekend for those places near to home. That's how I have thought about Nuremberg for nearly a year now. It's been my local city since I moved to Germany, but I've spent all my holidays travelling to the extremities of the country and ignoring the domestic. What a mistake.

Nuremberg was nearly completely destroyed by Allied bombing during World War 2. It rose like a phoenix from the ashes, and puts to shame the post-war monstrosities that were created by the British. Like the German elite protected its citizens from the bombs while the poor of East London where left to fend for themselves, the Germans rebuilt Nuremberg for the people, recreating its original beauty, while British cities like Coventry were turned into concrete hell holes nearly as bad as the burned out ruins themselves.

Nuremberg is an amazing city. Relaxed, compact, friendly, beautiful, and full of surprises. One of my colleagues described the city as "Coburg only bigger", and it really does feel just like a big town, but with all the things you associate with a big city. It is even the smallest city in Europe (at just under 500,000 people) to have its own proper underground.

The main attractions of the city can be split into three sections:

1. The Kaiserburg (the magnificent Imperial castle);
2. The Altstadt (fantastic reconstruction of the medieval core);
3. The Nazis (from the rallies to the retribution).

There's so much here to see and do, with many great towns and cities nearby, that three days would be a minimum just to skim the surface.

Nuremberg is in Bavaria, but its really the provincial capital of a region called Franconia, a beautiful and distinctive part of Germany that has some of the greatest places to visit in the entire country, like Würzburg and Bamberg, the city that the Lonely Planet guide goes crazy about. It has an incredible history, stretching back deep into the medieval ages where it once was the unofficial capital of Germany. The history has left it a rich heritage of art and culture, and the museums hold riches of some of the greatest artists, like Albrecht Dürer.

Walking around the walled Altstadt, admiring the grand buildings and protective towers, you'll have difficulty believing that the city was 90% destroyed by bombs only 60 years ago. The care with which the city has been rebuilt has left an impression on the people, who seem to walk around with the most contented smile on their faces, knowing that they are living in one of the most pleasant cities in the world, one that is consistently rated as one of the ten most liveable cities on the planet.

Things I Loved

The castle, the walks along the river, strolling about the town, the incredibly relaxed feel, the medieval towers, the Germanisches National Museum and Courtroom 600.

Disappointments

The nightlife was a bit quiet on a weekend.