Nuremberg is the land of gingerbread and handmade toys, but it was once the land of Nazi rallies and war crime tribunals. Struggling against the shadow of its history as the ideological center of Hitler’s regime, Nuremberg has rebuilt its devastated infrastructure. Prior to that horrific era, Nuremberg was home to artists, inventors, and astronomers.
Today a good number of historical buildings have been reconstructed, particularly in the Altstadt, or Old City. Nuremberg’s Altstadt lies within a 5 km city wall adorned with eighty towers. Kaiserburg castle lies within the Old City, where the streets are paved with cobblestones. Remnants of later history are evident in the Zeppelinfield arena, where Hitler strutted and ranted before cheering crowds. For a glimpse of the place where the famous Nuremberg trials occurred, take a stroll down Furtherstrasse past the Justizgebäude, which currently functions as a judicial hall. At Handwerkerhof, one can purchase the wares of local artisans whose expertise includes the creation of beer mugs, toys and glassware. For a bit of nightlife, one can take in a cabaret, some theater or opera, or simply order a beer at one of many outdoor patios and relax as the people of Nuremberg pass by.
