Nuremberg, Germany – Danube River Cruise
| RIVER CRUISE GUIDE | Bank (Pegnitz Canal) | Left/Right | KM | n/a |
| Altitude | 280-400m/918-1,312ft | Population | 490,000 |
Nurnberg Marktplatz
This former Free Imperial City is the second largest town in Bavaria, and principal town of the region of Franconia. In German tradition, Nuremberg is often referred to as the Mastersingers’ city, the city of Dürer, toy city, and even Christmas market and gingerbread town. Indeed, Nuremberg is still known as the `Treasury of the German Empire‘. The city walls, originally built in 14th and 15th C, with numerous gates and towers still maintain both the historical identity and integrity of Nuremberg.
Nuremberg was first mentioned in an imperial document in 1050. The Stauffer Emperors extended the castle which had been built on a sandstone hill (“Nuorenberc” = rocky hill) into an imperial palace. With their support Nuremberg flourished as a centre of trade in the Middle Ages and was granted the status of a Free Imperial City. By the 15th C Nuremberg was wealthy and provided an ideal climate for the arts and sciences.
Following the Thirty Years War, however, the city fell into decline. In 1806 it became part of the Kingdom of Bavaria and flourished once again, this time as an industrial centre. The darkest chapter in Nuremberg’s history was ushered in when the Nazis chose it as the site of their Party Rallies and in the 1930’s it became a symbol of National Socialism. The old town centre was reduced to rubble in 1945 as a result of Allied air raids.
The birth of German industrial tradition and its technical achievement is often associated with Nuremberg. Martin Behaim (1459-1506) designed the world’s very first globe here. Peter Henlein (1480-1542) produced the first pocket watch (Nürnberger Ei), The first German railroad came into operation here, serving Nuremberg and Fürth in 1835. The pride and joy of the Nurembergers are the famous poet Hans Sachs (1494-1576); painter and printer Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) and the master of Renaissance sculpture Veit Stoss (1445-1533).
Points of particular interest:
National Museum of German Art and Culture: Founded in 1852, the National Museum of Art and Culture is the world’s largest museum of the art and culture of the German-speaking world with more than 1.2 million exhibits. (Kärtäuserg; 1; Tue-Sun 10-6; Wed 10-9; Mon Closed; Admission €5.00)
Fascination and Terror Documentation Centre – Nazi Party Rally Grounds: Nazi Party buildings reminiscent of their building megalomania now house a modern information centre documenting the history of the rally grounds and the ruthless misuse of power under National Socialism. (Bayernstr. 110; Mon-Fri 9-6; Sat-Sun 10-6; Admission €5.00)
Albrecht Dürer’s House: Introduces the world and the work of Germany’s famous Renaissance artist with a multivision presentation `Albertus Dürer Noricus’ (Albrecht-Dürer-Str. 39; Tue-Sun 10-5; Thu 10-8; Admission €14.00)
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