Nürnberg Travel Guide

The Nuremberg Trials Memorial is a site of major historical significance, the venue of the world-famous Nuremberg Trials after WWII, where the international community judged Nazi war criminals, upheld justice and laid the cornerstone of modern international law, a solemn, profound and thought-provoking place. After WWII, to try the major war criminals of Nazi Germany for their crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity (including the horrific atrocities of the Holocaust), the victorious Allies established an international military tribunal in Nuremberg in 1945 to 1946 and held a series of historic trials, the famous Nuremberg Trials. These trials were a landmark in history: the first time the international community formally tried those who launched aggressive war and committed crimes against humanity, establishing the important principle that individuals bear legal responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity, laying a key cornerstone for modern international criminal law and human rights protection. The trial was held in Courtroom 600 of the Nuremberg Palace of Justice. Today this historic site is the Nuremberg Trials Memorial: visitors can see the famous Courtroom 600 where the historic trial was held (if no session is in progress), and through the memorial's detailed exhibits (documents, photos, films, artifacts) deeply understand the background, process, meaning and far-reaching impact of the Nuremberg Trials. Visiting the memorial with solemnity and reflection, remembering this history of justice and warning for future generations, is a profound experience.

Dürer's House is the residence where Albrecht Dürer, the greatest artist of the German Renaissance, once lived and worked. Visiting this well-preserved historic home to remember the artistic giant is a culturally meaningful stop in Nuremberg. Albrecht Dürer is one of the greatest and most influential artists of the German and European Renaissance, hailed as the Leonardo da Vinci of the North. He achieved supreme mastery in painting, printmaking (especially exquisite woodcuts and engravings), drawing and art theory; his works (such as Praying Hands and Melencolia I) are treasures of world art. Dürer was a Nuremberger, and the city is proud of its great native son. This Dürer's House, below the Kaiserburg, is a typical, exquisite 15th-century Nuremberg half-timbered burgher's house, where Dürer lived, worked and created for about twenty years until his death. Today it is a museum, carefully restored and furnished as in Dürer's time: visitors can see the living rooms, kitchen, and most importantly his studio and printmaking workshop (often with printmaking demonstrations recreating his methods), feeling the environment where the master lived and created; the museum also displays reproductions of Dürer's works and related introductions. Visiting Nuremberg's Dürer's House, stepping into the home of this Renaissance giant and remembering his great achievements, is a stop to feel the city's cultural depth.

The Pegnitz is a beautiful river flowing through Nuremberg's old town, adding a graceful waterside charm to this ancient medieval city. Its old bridges, historic riverside buildings and charming corners form the poetic, picturesque classic scenes of Nuremberg's old town. Winding through the center of the old town, the Pegnitz splits it into two parts; its waters are gentle and green, with quaint medieval scenery on both banks. Along this river that runs through the city are many of Nuremberg's most charming, photogenic sights: most famous are the ancient bridges across it and the historic buildings along the banks, especially the famous Holy Spirit Hospital (Heilig-Geist-Spital), a medieval almshouse partly built over the Pegnitz on arches, reflected in the water, one of Nuremberg's most classic, photogenic images; in addition, there is the old Hangman's Bridge and a mid-river island, riverside half-timbered houses, churches and more, all picture-perfect. Strolling along the Pegnitz, along the riverside paths and old bridges, visitors enjoy the rippling water, ancient bridges, riverside historic buildings and the reflections of old houses, the poetic, tranquil side of Nuremberg's old town, especially intoxicating in the soft evening light, and a great angle to photograph the city. Strolling Nuremberg's Pegnitz riverside and enjoying the poetic scenery of the river threading the old town, its bridges and old houses, is a pleasant, enchanting experience in this medieval city.

The Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle) is Nuremberg's most important landmark. This magnificent fortress atop the northern hill of the old town witnessed Nuremberg's glory as a key city of the Holy Roman Empire, looking down over the red-roofed medieval old town, the city's most historic sight. The Kaiserburg's history reaches back to the Middle Ages; it was one of the most important imperial residences of the Holy Roman Empire, in the Middle Ages nearly every Holy Roman Emperor visited or resided here, making Nuremberg for a time one of the empire's de facto central cities, of eminent status. Built along the hillside in layers, the castle is vast and imposing, comprising the imperial quarters, chapel, deep well, towers, walls and courtyards, blending Romanesque and other styles, ancient and sturdy. Visitors can tour the imperial quarters and halls (learning imperial history), the ancient two-level chapel, and a deep old well said to be dozens of meters deep (with lively water-drawing demonstrations); climbing the famous Sinwell Tower (round tower) reveals a superb panorama of the red-roofed medieval old town, church spires, walls and the whole city. The castle hill and surroundings are also a great spot to photograph Nuremberg's old town. Visiting Nuremberg's Kaiserburg, which witnessed imperial glory, and taking in the medieval old-town panorama, is the city's not-to-be-missed number-one sight.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum sits opposite the Palais des Nations in Geneva, a profound and moving humanitarian theme museum. The Red Cross was founded by Geneva merchant Henry Dunant—after seeing war's horrors he advocated neutral aid for the wounded and pushed the birth of the Geneva Conventions. The museum's three main themes—'Defending Human Dignity,' 'Rebuilding Family Links' and 'Reducing Natural Risks'—through moving objects, images, testimonies and interactive installations tell of the Red Cross's century and a half of saving lives and defending dignity in war, disaster and crisis. The exhibits are modern and affecting, prompting thought on humanitarian meaning. This museum is an important window into human mutual help and hope amid suffering.