Nuremberg

After spending several hours in Nuremberg - austere is a word that comes to mind. Yes, there are some beautiful parts and some amazing architecture......but for me the history of the place seemed to over shadow everything.

This was another city that was mostly rubble at the end of the Second World War and has been rebuilt

and now 500,000 people call it home.

There is an incredible number of buildings built of sandstone.....evidently sandstone was freely available just outside the city.

The Nuremberg castle is worth a visit and as with most castles sits high over the city with great views.

Walking up to the castle

More angles of the castle

Check out this huge lock on the door into the inner court at the castle......just imagine having to put this key in your handbag!

Of course it is infamous as the place where Hitler and the Nazis had their huge rallies, and then at the end of the war where the war crimes tribunal sat while criminals of war were put on trial.

Looking out over the city where the Nazis held their big rallies.

This is where the war tribunal trials were held after the war. The first trial took 12 months!

The verdicts -  12 were sentenced to hang, 7 given life imprisonment and 3 were acquitted.

The old city of Nuremberg is divided into 2 parts by a river. The original city wall built for fortification is still intact.

Walking down from the castle towards the city.

And through ancient underground tunnels

It is a very old city, the first mention of it in historic records is in 1050. There is so much history here, and once again one realises just how young our country is down under!

This old building is now a youth hostel!

It was also good to see some modern structures. Behind the archway in the photo below are 30 pillars 

built to depict human rights.

And I had to take a photo of some flowers to cheer myself up at one point :-)

There were so many points of interest as we wandered around the town, including the bunker where the people of town would go during the war....it now houses art!

These two churches are in the main square

I don't know who this is but he looks over the square and I thought he was quite cute!

This is City Hall

And the gilded fountain in the main market square

Also in the market square is the Church of Our Lady with its famous Glockenspiel that does its thing every 24 hours at midday. We were there at that time so we joined with hundreds of others to watch. Everyone stops what they're doing and stares upwards to watch and listen as the bells chime and the figures move and play their various instruments.

Nuremberg has always been famous for toy manufacture, although not so much these days. However the international toy fair is still held here every year at the beginning of February......just a bit of useful information for you:-)

I was a told something you just have to try in Nuremberg is the gingerbread.....and so of course I did! And it is so delicious! Soft and spicey and yummy.....would be perfect at Christmas!

And check these out.....cherry snails they're called......I didn't try them but they looked amazing!

As we were sitting in the bus ready to leave the city I saw this......hmmm.....Audi drivers huh?

Till next time.......