Start: Nuremberg
Finish: Nuremberg
Distance: 0
Total: 1369
I had a great day off in Nuremberg today. The weather was beautiful and I got out and did some sightseeing.
I guess I’ll just give up on sleeping in. I woke up at 6:30 like it was time to go walk. I just hung out in my room watching coverage of the earthquake in California for an hour, then ventured out into Old Town Nuremberg for some breakfast and see the sights.
Nuremberg is a traditional Bavarian city with a wall built around the original old town. The architecture is medieval with fortifications and stone towers around the entire perimeter. Many of you probably remember Nuremberg for two things. First, before WWII, and especially in the 1930s, Nuremberg was the site of major Nazi rallies. The city became the epicenter of the Nazi movement and at a 1935 rally, Hitler ordered the enactment of the Nuremberg Laws which revoked German citizenship for all Jews and other non-Aryans. Second, Nuremberg was the site of the Nuremberg Trials which held to account many Nazi officials after WWII. After the trials ended with convictions, a series of executions took place in Nuremberg on 16 October 1946 when 10 members of the military and political leadership of Nazi Germany were publicly executed.
During WWII, the allies pretty much bomber Nuremberg back to the stone ages. On 2 January, 1945, the medieval city center was bombed relentlessly by British and American bombers and in only one hour, about 90% was destroyed. With Nuremberg being a walled city, it’s fortifications were a difficult challenge for allied ground troops. During a fierce battle that took place 17-21 April 1945, three U.S. Army Divisions fought house-to-house in the already bombed and shelled buildings of the inner city to capture Nuremberg.
Today, much of the original Nuremberg Old Town has been rebuilt. Though many of the buildings have modern architecture, many of the medieval buildings, particularly the government buildings and cathedrals were rebuilt to look original. In all, it’s a great old city with a rich heritage.
Tomorrow it’s back on the road for me. I’ve got a 22 mile day planned so it’s up and at’em for me. I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Thanks for reading. JB.
OBTW: I posted a new video. Watch it by clicking on video on my website or search thewalkingaggie on YouTube.
Another gorgeous cathedral. Did any bells toll? I always enjoy hearing them. Even better is a chance to venture inside and see and hear the pipe organs! I wish your walking path had veered just a touch further west I was disappointed you weren’t going through Wertheim. I have fond memories of living there when I was a wee one. It would have been nice to have John Ball walking on those cobblestones I stumbled over years ago and sending me pictures of the fountain in the town center and the little shops surrounding it. I remember being allowed to… Read more »
Pretty pictures! Glad you enjoyed a day off in a new city!