Continuing my subconscious to visit as many medieval towns as possible on my road trip through Germany, I found myself in Nuremberg.
Nuremberg has a rich medieval history with gothic churches, a medieval artisan market and a castle overlooking the city, fully incorporated into surrounding walls that once defended the town.
These days, Nuremberg is perhaps most associated with the Nuremberg Trials, though I didn’t seek out much WWII history during my visit.
Now my absolute favorite part of Nuremberg was Handwerkerhof, the medieval shopping area at one end of town. Narrow footpaths and half-timbered houses wind around Frauentorturm, the tower gate into Nuremberg’s old town.
This is a great place to shop for traditional handmade crafts and tasty treats. It is quite a small area, though, so don’t expect to spend a full day here unless you decide to sit down to eat.
Make a point to pick up some of Nuremberg’s famous lebkuchen, a popular treat similar to gingerbread.
Exiting the artisan market, there are plenty of other more modern shops to explore while wandering through the streets of Nuremberg’s Old Town.
Kreuzigungshof is another landmark of medieval interest. The double arched canals below the building drew my attention immediately.
Impossible to ignore is the city’s Frauenkirche, a 14th century testament to Gothic Architecture that towers over Nuremberg’s main market square. It seemed to be closed during my visit, but the exterior was impressive enough! The church took major damage during WWII but has since been extensively restored.
Across the market square, the Schöner Brunnen demands attention. Built by the same architect who designed Frauenkirche’s porch, this 60 foot tall gothic spire is bedecked in gold and covered tip to tail with statues and decorative embellishes. Legend says if you make a wish and spin the lucky golden ring three times, your wish will come true!
Those interested in art may wish to visit the Albrecht Dürer House, which is a museum dedicated to the German renaissance artist who lived in the half timbered house for nearly two decades, until his death.
Overlooking all is Nuremberg’s Castle. The castle consists of three major structures that make up the fortification, with the first appearing around the year 1000.
Since we were beaten to the castle by what seemed like every Viking River Cruise passenger within a 5 mile radius, we elected not to join them on their tour of the castle, and instead explored the exterior for free!
There are some really excellent views of the surrounding city from the castle- but bear in mind we had to work for those views. I was sweating by the time I got up there!
If you’re lucky enough to be visiting in the winter, make time to explore Nuremberg’s Christkindlesmarkt, which is frequently listed as one of the best Christmas Markets in Europe due to its age and fame!
Don’t forget to stop by the “prettiest street in Nuremberg”, Weißgerbergasse, a cobblestone street lined with colorful half-timbered houses. It is really pretty but it is only those specific houses on the street, which made me laugh.
Although I didn’t have much time in Nuremberg, I do usually like to seek out local fare. I already had the lebkuchen, so next up was sausage! Nuremberg is known for its Nuremberg Sausages, Bratwurst, Schäufele (pig’s shoulder), and Tucher Beer!
Did you know that Bratwurst was first documented in Nuremberg?
We ate at Bratwursthäusle for a cozy vibe with a wooden interior, rustic tables and delicious food (and, crucially, was very warm on a cold day). For those looking for lighter fare, I can recommend Auckland Coffee, a charmingly New Zealand inspired cafe where I got a fruity filled porridge for breakfast in an attempt to stave off my oncoming illness that I’d picked up at Oktoberfest.
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