If you are thinking of traveling for the holidays, Nuremburg Germany is a great place to visit. If it is snowing at Christmastime, just walking through the beautiful city will make it a magical destination. But with so much to see and do, you are sure to fall in love with everything about your trip.
Read on to find out what you should be planning to do during your Nuremburg vacation.
Christkindlesmarkt
As soon as you google Nuremburg and Christmas, the Christmaskindlemarkt, or Christmas market is bound to come up. It is one of the oldest and most famous Christmas markets in the world. Vendors are set up in wooden booths and sell handmade Christmas decorations and seasonal treats like gingerbread and Spekulatius almond cookies.
While at the market, be sure to stop by at the Creche, a large nativity scene that features a thatched roof and hand-crafted wooden figures.
As one of the oldest fairs, it is said to date back to the mid 16th century. The earliest written recordings of it go back to 1530. It kicks off every year around the United States’ black Friday with a spectacular opening event called Christkind that attracts tourists from all over the world.
Christkind is an exciting event in and of itself. It is based on the idea that a sort of female Santa Claus (Christkind) comes and brings gifts to children.
The role of Christkind is typically played by a young female volunteer from the city. She is decked out like a fairy princess and takes over the festivities for this exciting occasion.
The Christkind event takes place in the Children’s Market which is open throughout the season. It includes a double decker carousel, a kid sized train and other children’s activities.
Visit the Churches
Nuremburg has is a great place to see amazing architecture and its churches are no exception. Christmastime is an excellent time to visit these churches for some peaceful reflection. Here are a few that shouldn’t be missed.
St. Lorenz Cathedral: St. Lorenz Cathedral is one of the most famous buildings in Nuremburg. It was built in the middle of the 13th century. It has terrific stone structures, a Gothic style double doored archway, a signature round ornate windows and a huge pipe organ. During the holidays, you can expect to see performances by the resident choir.
St. Egidien Church: This church boasts impressive Baroque style architecture. It was built on the site of an older church and is comprised of three older chapels.
St. Sebaldus Church: St. Sebaldus is located in Old Town Nuremburg and is one of the city’s most historic churches. It has twin towers, beautiful stained-glass windows and religious artwork. Stop by for services or a choir performance.
Sisters City Market
While the Christmas Market is the ultimate attraction for Nuremberg shopping and activities, you may also want to check out the Sisters City Market. A diversion from the typical German fare, this one offers crafts from 24 sister cities around the world with a booth to represent each one. Cities included are as follows.
Antalya (Turkey)
Atlanta (USA)
Kharkiv (Ukraine)
Gera (Thuringia)
Glasgow (Scotland)
Kavala (Greece)
Krakow (Poland)
Nice (France)
Prague (Czech Republic)
San Carlos (Nicaragua)
Shenzhen (China)
Skopje (Macedonia)
Limousin (France)
Bar (Montenegro)
Brasov/Kronstadt (Romania)
Kalkudah (Sri Lanka)
Klausen+Montan (Italy)
Verona (Italy)
Museums
While in Nuremburg, you will want to check out the city’s many museums. Here are some that are worth checking out.
Emperor Empire City Imperial Castle Nuremberg
You can tour this castle to find out how it was built and how it functioned over the last 900 years. It includes exhibits like a statue of emperor Karl IV and a model of a wooden city from 1540. You can also take a look at the imperial chapel, the palace and the collection of arms and armors.
Albrecht Durer’s House
Albrecht Durer is known as one of Germany’s finest Renaissance artists. Built in 1420, the timbered house has been restored and contains reconstructed living areas, kitchens and a large workshop with functioning printing materials.
During your visit, be sure to check out Durer Hall. Opened in the summer of 2012, the hall holds many of Durer’s works. It hosts a Cabinet of Printing and Drawings exhibition that displays pieces from the graphics collection of the museen der stadt Nurnberg. There is also an audio-guide in the voiced by an actress playing the role of Durer’s wife that will take you through the house.
Toy Museum
Nuremburg has always been considered the city of toys so it should come as no surprise that it is home to a large toy museum. The ground floor includes wooden toys and insight into life when the toys were created.
The second floor features a collection of Lehmann tin toys along with information on the history of the company. Cars, trains and steam engines are popular types of toys included in the exhibit. They are known for integrating play and technology.
On the top floor you can find more modern toys like Lego, Barbie and Matchbox cars. There is also a supervised play area that children can enjoy.
Tours
To truly get a taste of the city, you will want to go on at least one of the many tours available. Here are some worth checking out.
Stagecoach Tours
These vintage inspired tours will take you back. The stagecoaches are reproductions of nine-seater Berlin two coupes. They are pulled by two stately horses. Guests can sit back in the thickly padded seats as the vehicle plays holiday music and takes them on a 15 minute tour around the city.
Old Town Tour in Mini-Train
The mini-train provides a fun way to see the city. Sit back as you hear stories about Nuremburg’s history that will make you laugh, cry and cringe while enjoying sites like the Imperial Castle, the sandstone facades of the city’s surviving wall, Maxbrucke bridge and other important buildings and monuments.
Double Decker Bus
Hop on a double decker bus as you ride through the city and learn about its history.
Nuremberg makes the perfect holiday destination. What will you be doing when you visit?
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