Nuremberg Facts
Fact 1: Meistergesang, a distinctive form of lyric poetry, flourished from the fourteenth century on. Nuremberg was one of many homes for this literary art that was mainly practiced by members of the skilled artisan class.
Fact 2: Be sure to tempt your taste buds with a bite of the delicious Lebkuchen, the fragrant gingerbread that is sold in attractive colored boxes. The old Nuremberg Handwerkshof was a craftsmen's yard, but today it stands as a living museum that displays medieval handicrafts and pieces in gold and other precious metals. It also covers the manufacturer of the famous gingerbread.
Fact 3: The Germanisches Nationalmuseum was founded in 1852. With 1.2 million exhibits, the museum houses the largest art and culture collection in the German-speaking world. Don't panic, only 20,000 of its principal items are on permanent display.
Fact 4: Albrecht Dürer, a painter, engraver, scientist, writer, traveler, and politician, is Germany's example of a Renaissance Man. Durer lived in a fifteenth century burgher's house in Nuremberg until his death in 1528. The home, which Durer purchased in 1509, now serves as a museum and gives some insight into the life of the man.
Fact 5: Nuremberg is the second largest city in Bavaria and an important industrial and commercial center. It is the liveliest Bavarian city next to Munich.
Fact 6: The Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain) is a fourteenth century Gothic fountain and is one of the best-known sights in Nuremberg. The 62-foot fountain is comprised of 40 separate figures in the shape of a pyramid. Moses is placed at the top surrounded by the prophets, the seven Electors, and a series of nine Old Testament and medieval heroes (three forefathers, three Jews, and three Christians) that surround the base. The figures adorning the fountain today are copies.
Fact 7: The folks of Nuremberg are quick to point out that the Nazi's choice of this city for their Reichsparteitage had nothing to do with their local beliefs. The deciding factor was based on the fact that the medieval city had been the capital, and its jump to prominence was perceived as showing the nation's power at its best. The Nazis used the Nuremberg Laws, passed in 1935, to justify their killing of six million Jews, including 10,000 from Nuremberg.
Fact 8: Thirteen separate trials, representing a large-scale prosecution of Nazis, were held in Nuremberg between 1945 and 1947. These trials were presided over by judges from the four major allied powers – the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. A total of 177 Germans and Austrians were indicted. All but 35 of them were found guilty. Twenty-five were executed, 20 were sentenced to life in prison, and 97 were sentenced to shorter prison terms.
Fact 9: The Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle) was built high on a sandstone crag above the old city. It was the site of many imperial meetings from the eleventh to sixteenth centuries. The castle was the "treasure chest of the German Empire" and, despite the fact that many modifications and war damages have occurred, the castle dominates Nuremberg and provides one of the best views of the city.
Fact 10: Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree! A wide variety of Christmas Tree decorations and other gifts are available from the Friday before the first Sunday in Advent until the end of December at the Christkindlesmarkt, the Christ Child Market.
