Nürnberg Travel Forum

During an upcoming river cruise we'll be taking we will be stopping in Nurnberg.

While there we have two choices in terms of sightseeing and was wondering which would be most recommended as the better option.

First, a "choice of touring the city's sites associated with World War II and its aftermath-including the famous Court House", or

"its walled medieval Old Town, including a visit to the home of 16th Century painter Albrecht Durer".

I must confess that I do enjoy history associated with WWII, however, I am open to option #2 as well.

What do I do? What do I do?

Nuremberg has a very impressing centre. If you look fr something speial, get a guide who shows you the "underworld". It is very interesting!

The Dürer Hotel and the Dürer Stuben are places I can highly recommend to stay and to eat.

Nürnberg's "medieval old town" is mostly a post-war reconstruction with some historical buildings (a few preserved, most rebuilt) and a lot of post-war architecture in between. Even in the city's pre-war "medieval" image there was a lot of 19th century historism. If you want to see a medieval city there are better places than Nürnberg.
Where else are you going to stop during the cruise? I suppose you will also get to see Regensburg, for example? (If not, shame on the cruise company...)

The Dürer house is a museum equipped with some furniture of Dürer's times and showing an exhibition on his life and work. It is the (rebuilt) house of the painter but what's inside is not the stuff Dürer actually owned and used.

On the other hand, Nürnberg has been one of the main centres of Nazi Germany. The buildings in the party rally grounds are authentic, as is the court building. This is unique and special for Nürnberg. If you get to see other old towns in Germany, I'd rather give "medieval Nürnberg" a miss and do the World War II tour.

I agree - and I hope you will visit Regensburg and Passau too!

if you have an interest in WWII history the nazi party grounds should not be missed. this area is a very unique part of germany. check my nurnberg pages on both the party grounds and the city center so you can decide. have a wonderful cruise. doug

The Third Reich remains in Nuernberg are definitely worth a visit. It's true that much of the city centre is reconstructed, but that is the case in many parts of central Europe. It's still a dine city. The Imperial castle (Kaiserburg) is a particularly good example of a German castle, if you're interested in miltary architecture.

To all who contributed...THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

In answer to some of the other questions, yes, we will be going to Passau, Regensburg, Bamberg, Rothenburg and Wurzburg...and some others.

Any other inputs/comments/suggestions/recommendations will be welcome since, I think, we will have some small amount of discretinary time in these towns.

Again, thanx to all!

Walt

With that list of destinations, my vote for the Third Reich tour is even more clear. You will see far more beautiful old towns in Bamberg, Regensburg, Rothenburg.
If you have an hour or two to yourselves in Nürnberg, you still have the chance to go for a walk in the old town and have a look at the castle and the Dürerhaus, all this is within easy walking distance.
My personal favourite sight: Nürnberg's best collection of 15th and 16th century church art, still in its original location, can be found in St Lorenz church.

the Nazi Documentation center is one of the best of its kind, the movie about the Nuremberg trials is riveting, the exhibits excellent. if you have interest in these issues, it will be a highlight of your trip. i have some of both choices on my page.

I grant you that the Nazi parad ground is worth a visit, but it's a good walk out of Nurnberg and it is massive - I doub't you'd have time to do more than a fraction of it.

I agree Bamberg & Regensburg are well worth a look - don't be put off with Bamberg - and do eat in a beer keller - fantastic food at good prices

if you are going on a tour, access is no problem, of course. for the documentation center on your own, take tram 9 from right in front of the train station to the last stop. the building with the trial room is harder to get to.