Nuremberg Facts

Nuremberg may well be Bavaria's second largest city, but the locals prefer to think of it as the centre of Franconia. The town is usually associated with some of the darkest episodes in German history but contemporary Franconia will force you to see another side to the place. It has a distinctly cosmopolitan feel, and there is something exciting on offer for people of all age groups.

Altstadt

Nuremberg's Altstadt, or Old Town is surrounded by a mighty city-wall that is 5km long. It soon becomes obvious why this city was a favourite with the Romantic Movement. Cobble-stoned squares and half-timbered houses make up the scenery, and the aroma of roasted sausages and gingerbread fill the air. This...

...Nürnberg was once a masterpiece of medieval splendor, but that legacy was lost in the ashes of war. With the exception of Dresden, no other German city suffered such devastation in a single air raid. On the night of January 2, 1945, 525 British Lancaster bombers rained fire and destruction on this city, the ideological center of the Third Reich.

Nürnberg today has regained its vitality and is now a symbol of postwar prosperity. The city swarms with people, both longtime residents and the Gastarbeiter (foreign workers), who have flooded the city in recent years -- many from the old Soviet Bloc countries to the east. For most of the year, the city is thronged with visitors, too. It's a notable...