Exploring Nuremberg

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Nuremberg is one of those cities whose name instantly conjures up images of World War II and the Nazi regime; so much so, that I wasn’t looking forward to visiting Nuremberg.  I was contemplating doing a side excursion to another city instead.  I am grateful that I changed my mind and toured the city of Nuremberg.  It does have a sad history with the Nazis; however, this regime does not define the city.

The castle in Nuremberg is beautiful.  I freely admit that I am a bit of nerd when it comes to old buildings and old things.  I get really excited about them.  I love that they have been standing for generations and I find them architecturally interesting.  Nuremberg castle comes complete with a mote.  What more could an overly romantic person want?  The defensive walls are impressive and remarkable in their size and the effort it took to build them.  It is built (of course) on the highest point in the area and affords remarkable views of the city.

The old market square is fun.  Very touristy but fun none the less.  Here you can find stalls that sell the original recipe Ginger Bread.  The spices used in the recipe were originally used as medicines so Ginger Bread was considered “medicinal”.  I’ll take that medicine any day!  I did try a sample and it was really good.  I think I feel a cold coming on…maybe I should go back and buy some ginger bread.  Completely for medicinal reasons I assure you!

Most of Nuremberg was bombed during World War II and most of the city was lost; to the extent that 92% of the buildings in Nuremberg were destroyed.  The remaining 8% are a site worth seeing.  There is one old town street that survived and it is magical to walk down this street below the castle.  The architecture is similar to other locations in Europe but it is well worth the effort to see.  Did you know that the chain bridge here in the old town section was the bridge the Golden Gate Bridge was modeled after?  It is!  Of course the Golden Gate bridge is much larger by far!

The Nazi Rally Grounds are large and impressive and have been put to good use.  They hold a memorial of the Nuremberg Trials and the atrocities inflicted on mankind by the very people who endeavored to impress the world with their buildings.  I find the use of the very buildings built by the Nazis to impress the world to actually educate the world about their crimes a nice symmetry.  If you get the chance to go there, you can learn all about the War Trials held there.  If you are a history buff, you can’t miss this.

If you want to see some of our photos from our adventure in Nuremberg, Germany, click here.  If you would like to read about our entire adventure on an Avalon Waterways River Cruise, click here.  Want to learn more about River Cruises?  Check out our blog on why River Cruises are the fastest growing segment in travel.

Planning a trip to Nuremberg or maybe just a visit to Germany in general?  Contact us, your Nuremberg experts, and we can assist you in putting together the perfect trip to Nuremberg.