Nuremberg

Nuremberg (German: Nürnberg) is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is situated on the Pegnitz river and the (Rhine-) Main-Danube Canal. It is located about 105 miles north of Munich, at 49.27° N 11.5° E. Population (as of 01/2006) is 500,132.

History

Middle Ages

From 1050 to 1571, the city expanded and rose dramatically in importance due to its location on key trade routes. It is often referred to as have being the 'unofficial capital' of the Holy Roman Emperor, particularly because Reichstage (Imperial Diets) and courts met at Nuremberg Castle. The Diets of Nuremberg were an important part of the administrative structure of the empire. In 1219 Nuremberg became an Imperial Free City under Emperor Frederick II. Nuremberg soon became, with Augsburg, one of the two great trade centers on the route from Italy to Northern Europe. Nuremberg is known for owning the first Iron Maiden torturing device. In 1298, the Jews of the town were accused of having desecrated the host and 698 were slain in one of the many Rindfleisch massacres Behind the Massacre in 1298 was also the desire to combine the northern and southern parts of the city which were devided by the river Pegnitz going through the middle. Jews were forced to settle in that flood prone area. But as the city leaders realized this center of town is very crucial to the future development of town they were thrown out and killed. This area is now the place of the City Market, Frauenkirche and Rathaus (City Hall).

Hl. Geistspital

Early modern age

The cultural flowering of Nuremberg in the 15th and 16th centuries made it the center of the German Renaissance.

In 1525, Nuremberg accepted the Reformation, and in 1532, the religious Peace of Nuremberg, by which the Lutherans gained important concessions, was signed there. In 1632 during the Thirty Years' War, the Imperial general Albrecht von Wallenstein besieged King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in the Siege of Nuremberg. The city declined after the war and recovered its importance only in the 19th century, when it grew as an industrial center. At the beginning of the 19th century Nuremberg was practically bankrupt. In 1806 with the Holy Roman Empire formally being dissolved, Nuremberg passed to Bavaria. The Bavarian state took over the debts of Nuremberg and did guarantee their amortization. The first German railway, from Nuremberg to nearby Fürth, was opened in 1835.

20th century

Defensive wall, north from the Castle

Because of its relevance to the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation, in line with the connotations raised by the term Third Reich, the Nazis chose the city as the site of their large NSDAP party conventions. A number of premises were specially constructed for these assemblies, as well as other buildings, some of which were not finished. To this date, many examples of Nazi architecture can be seen in the city, making it an interesting visit for those interested in the History of Germany overall.

After Adolf Hitler came to power, Nuremberg was made a national shrine by the National Socialists, who held their annual party congresses nearby from 1933 through 1938. The city was the home of the Nazi leader Julius Streicher and became a center of anti-Semitic propaganda, as well as the famous Nuremberg rallies captured in Leni Riefenstahl's 1934 film Triumph of the Will.

During World War II, Nuremberg was the Headquarters of Military District/Wehrkreis XIII, and an important site for the production of airplane, submarine, and tank engines. The industrial areas of the city were severely damaged in air raids (1943/44). On January 2nd, 1945, the medieval city center was systematically bombed by the British and Americans and was largely (90%) destroyed in only one hour, with 1 800 residents killed and roughly 100 000 left homeless. In February 1945, additional attacks followed. All in all, 6 000 residents of Nuremberg are estimated to have been killed in air raids. Despite this, the city was rebuilt after the war and was to some extent restored to its pre-war appearance, down to the replication of some of its medieval buildings. However, the pre-war splendour of the city seems to be lost.

Between 1945 and 1949, German officials involved in the Holocaust were taken in front of a tribunal in the Nuremberg Trials.

Economy

Nuremberg for many people is still associated with its traditional gingerbread (Lebkuchen) products, sausages and handmade toys. The first pocket watches, the Nürnberg eggs, were made here in the 16th century. In the 19th century, however, Nuremberg became the "industrial heart" of Bavaria. Companies like Siemens and MAN had their roots in this town. Nuremberg is still an important industrial center with a strong position towards markets in Central and Eastern Europe. Items manufactured include electrical equipment, mechanical and optical products, motor vehicles and printed materials. To the economic profile add strong activities in the automation, energy and medical technology sector. There are many "hidden champions" with a leading role in the world markets which have their seats in Nuremberg. The biggest industrial employer in the Nuremberg region still is the Siemens company. A third of the German consumer research companies are located in Nuremberg. The Nuremberg Toy Fair is the biggest worldwide, and several specialised high-technology fairs attract experts from all over the world every year.

Nuremberg has an airport with flights to major German cities and selected European destinations as well as connecting flights worldwide via Frankfurt International Airport. The city's location next to numerous highways, railways and a waterway has contributed to its rising importance for trade with Eastern Europe. It is connected by a 300 km/h high speed railway line via Ingolstadt to Munich.

Culture

Towers of St. Sebald and the Castle as seen from St. Lorenz

Nuremberg was an early center of humanism, science, printing, and mechanical invention.

The city contributed much to the science of astronomy. In 1471 Johannes Mueller of Königsberg (Bavaria), later called Regiomontanus, built an astronomical observatory in Nuremberg and published many important astronomical charts. In 1515, Albrecht Dürer, a native of Nuremberg, mapped the stars of the northern and southern hemispheres, producing the first printed star charts, which had been ordered by Johann Stabius. Around 1515 Dürer also published the "Stabiussche Weltkarte", the first perspective reproduction of the terrestrial globe. Perhaps most famously, the main part of Nicolaus Copernicus' work was published in Nuremberg in 1543.

Printers and publishers have a long history in Nuremberg. Many of these publishers worked with well-known artists of the day to produce books that could also be considered works of art. Others furthered geographical knowledge and travel by mapmaking. Two of these were navigator and geographer Martin Behaim, who made the first world globe, and Hartmann Schedel, who wrote his World Chronicles (Schedelsche Weltchronik) in the local Franconian dialect.

Sculptors like Veit Stoss and Peter Vischer are also associated with Nuremberg.

Composed of prosperous artisans, the guilds of the Meistersingers flourished here. Richard Wagner made their most famous member, Hans Sachs, the hero of his opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel was born here and was organist of St. Sebald church.

Nuremberg is also famous for its Christmas market, which draws thousands of tourists each year.

Nuremberg in winter.

Main sights

The following churches are located inside the city walls: St. Sebald, St. Lorenz, Frauenkirche(Our Lady's Church), St. Klara, St. Martha, St. Jakob, St. Egidien, and St. Elisabeth. The church of the previous Katharienkloster is preserved as a ruin, the Cartause is integrated in the building of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum and the choir of the previous Franzikanerkirche is part of a modern building. The Walburga Chapel and the romanic "Doppelkapelle" (Chapel with two floors) are part of Nuremberg Castle.

[Frauenkirche:[1]]

[St. Lorenz Church:[2],[3]]

[St. Elisabeth Church:[4]]

The "Johannisfriedhof" containing many old graves (Albrecht Dürer, Willibald Pirckheimer, etc.) and the "Rochusfriedhof", or the Wöhrder Kirchhof, are near the Old Town.

There is also a medieval market just inside the city walls, selling hand crafted goods.

101 train in the city

Transport

Sister cities

Worldwide, Nuremberg is twinned with the following cities:
* - Nice, France since 1954
* - Kraków, Poland since 1979
* - Skopje, Macedonia since 1982
* - Glasgow, Great Britain since 1985
* - San Carlos, Nicaragua since 1985
* - Gera, Thuringia (former GDR), since 1988, renewed 1997
* - Prague, Czech Republic since 1990
* - Kharkov, Ukraine since 1990
* - Hadera, Israel since 1995
* - Shenzhen, China since 1997
* - Antalya, Turkey since 1997
* - Kavala, Greece since 1998
* - Atlanta, USA since 1998
* - Venice, Italy since 1999

*English website of the city
*Nuremberg City Panoramas - Panoramic Views and virtual Tours
* Carnival's Schembart run turns Nuremberg into a medieval city again
* Nuremberg info and gallery
*Nuremberg by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
*more Nuremberg Panoramas
*Architecture of Nuremberg
*Nuremberg
*Tramway in Nuremberg
*Article at jewishencyclopedia.com
*Nuremberg Places of Interest - Attractions in Nuremberg

Nuremberg: Encyclopedia BETA

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