Nuremberg can be explored through a variety of cultural perspectives: the Middle Ages, the city’s history, remembrance, crafts and toys all shape a multifaceted picture of the city. Its sites and collections each focus on different themes. Those discovering Nuremberg might be interested in historic buildings, public art or the stories behind remarkable collections.
City History and Medieval Architecture
The Toy Museum displays historical toy treasures and modern toys across 1,400 square metres. Examples include Lego, Barbie, Playmobil and Matchbox. The contrast between older items and more modern toy worlds illustrates the breadth of the collection.
The City Museum at the Fembo House tells the story of more than 950 years of city history. The museum is housed in Nuremberg’s only surviving late Renaissance merchant’s house, in the heart of the Old Town. Here, the city’s history meets that of a remarkable building.
The Imperial Castle is one of the most significant imperial palaces of the Middle Ages in Europe. During a visit, you can see the Romanesque double chapel with a late Gothic crucifix by Veit Stoß, the 47-metre-deep well shaft of the Deep Well and the Sinwell Tower. A comprehensive collection of weapons and equipment is also among the things to see there. The Imperial Castle Museum complements the visit with a permanent exhibition on the castle’s architectural history and historical significance, as well as the development of weapons history in the Middle Ages. Check the latest access information before your visit.
Remembrance and Public Art
The Memorium Nuremberg Trials provides information about the Nuremberg Trials at the original site. Parts of the original dock from Courtroom 600, along with historical audio and film documents, give visitors an impression of the proceedings. The former Nazi Party Rally Grounds offer another way to engage with the history of the 20th century: a comprehensive information system enables visitors to learn about the Nazi Party rallies on site. The grounds around Nuremberg’s Dutzendteich lake are now used as a recreational area and event venue. Check the latest access information on site.
The Way of Human Rights is a walk-through work of art comprising 27 concrete pillars, each eight metres high. On each pillar, the intervening pillar oak and two ground plaques, one article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is engraved in German and one other language. The artwork thus combines a route through public space with the text of the Declaration.
Art, Crafts and Nuremberg Traditions
St. Lorenz Church is home to the three-part Lorenz organ, with more than 12,000 pipes and 165 stops. At the Neues Museum NĂĽrnberg, the architecture provides a setting for modern art, design and temporary exhibitions. The two venues offer contrasting experiences: a striking instrument in a church in one, art and design in a museum in the other.
At the Handwerkerhof Nuremberg, visitors can watch craftspeople at work. Traditional crafts still practised there include gingerbread making, leatherworking, glass painting and glass grinding, pottery, pewter casting, wood burning and goldsmithing. The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, meanwhile, is a seasonal event closely associated with the figure of the Nuremberg Christkind.
Underground Passages and the Zoo
The Historic Rock-Cut Cellars comprise more than 20,000 square metres of rock cellars and form the largest interconnected rock-cellar labyrinth in southern Germany. They can only be visited as part of a guided tour. After visiting the passages and the Altstadthof brewery, you can sample traditional Nuremberg red beer. If you plan to include this activity, check the latest tour options.
Nuremberg Zoo features the Dolphin Lagoon, the tropical-themed Manatee House and the children’s zoo. Another special attraction is the “Little Eagle” miniature railway: it is a scale model, at 1:2 scale, of Germany’s first railway. These features give the zoo a character of its own alongside Nuremberg’s museums, buildings and historic sites.
Discover more destinations: Worzeldorf, Boxdorf, Alfeld, Henfenfeld, Feucht, Lauf an der Pegnitz, Schnaittach, Schwarzenbruck.
Go to the higher-level travel overview: Nuremberg Region.
