Begin your tour at one of the three most important churches in the Old Town of Nuremberg, St. Lorenz. The church features a magnificent portal; in the interior await important artworks from Veit Stoß (The Annunciation) or Adam Kraft, as well as one of the largest pipe organs in the world. The Bavarian Bible Museum offers fascinating insights about the Bible from a variety of perspectives.
Via the Kaiserstraße and the Karlsbrücke, which was erected in 1486, you’ll find the Trödelmarkt, a small island in the middle of the Pegnitz River, with a lovingly restored ensemble of buildings. The Bratwurst Museum is worth a stop here. Cross the Hangman’s Bridge from which the executioner once reached his isolated home above the river and which today houses the Executioner’s House Museum and you can walk along the Pegnitz to the Maxbrücke (Photo Spot!). From here, you have a wonderful view of the Former Wine Depot, and, on the other side of the bridge, the Chained Suspension Bridge, next on our walk. This is considered the oldest surviving metal suspension bridge in continental Europe and leads directly to the Tanners‘ Lane, whose circa 20 historical houses are mainly constructed of half-timbering. At the end of the lane, past the church of St. Sebald, the oldest parish church in Nuremberg, the way leads up the hill along the Bergstraße.
First, you’ll encounter the Historical Rock Cut Cellars (Tip: Try the Nuremberg Rotbeer) and then the Albrecht Dürer House, the former home and workplace of this famous artist. Over the Tiergärtnertor Square, which is a favorite place to meet for both locals and guests – especially on warm summer evenings, the route leads up to hill to the symbol of the city, the Imperial Castle. The climb is worth it, not only because of the Imperial Castle Museum, but also for the fantastic view over the Old Town (Photo Spot!). Passing the Sinwellturm, you can descend via the Burgstraße to the Old City Hall with its Medieval Dungeons. Via the Waaggasse, you’ll arrive at the Augustinerhof (Photo Spot!), with the Deutsches Museum – Museum of the Future, opened in 2021. The Tuchgasse connects the area with the Main Market Square and the Beautiful Fountain. Don’t forget to turn the golden ring and make a wish! On the opposite side of the square, you’ll find the Church of Our Lady. Each day at 12 noon, the Männleinlaufen – a depiction of the seven electors who turn past Emperor Charles IV as a reminder of the Golden Bull he issued here in 1356 – takes place on its west gable. On the Main Market Square, the heart of the city, a variety of cultural events take place (tourismus.nuernberg.de/events) and, during Advent, the famous Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt (www.christkindlesmarkt.de/en).
Our tour of the Nuremberg Old Town ends on the Museumsbrücke, with a view of the Hospital of the Holy Spirit.