Germany Part 2: Nuremberg

Nuremberg was interesting for me as it was pared with a trip to BioFach, the largest Trade Fair of Organic Food and Cosmetics in the world. I won't get into the trade fair, but focus on the city that houses it...Nuremberg or Nürnberg, you'll see it spelled both ways, is the second largest city in Bavaria and situated about 170km north of Munich, so if you go in Winter (like we did), be prepared to freeze.



We were in a youth hostel outside of the city about 30 minutes away (Hostel Pottenstein Jugendherberge). Very cute little town up in the mountains and absolutely terrifying to get to in a doubledecker coach bus!



The breakfast and dinner was included, so we only had to worry about lunch. Being a group of students, many made sandwhiches from the breakfast buffet and brought those along for meals away from the hostel.

Nuremberg itself is a day trip. The key place to see is the Nuremberg Castle and The Hauptmarkt, dominated by the front of the unique Gothic Frauenkirche (Our Lady's Church), which provides a picturesque setting for the famous Christmas market. A main attraction on the square is the Gothic Schöner Brunnen (Beautiful Fountain) which was erected around 1385 but subsequently replaced with a replica (the original fountain is kept in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum). The unchanged Renaissance bridge Fleischbrücke crosses the Pegnitz nearby.



You pay to get into the castle, but walking around and the 15 minute video showing how the castle changed over time is free. I don't recommend paying for the castle and museum unless you really want to. Walking around is more than enough. When you get out of the castle, head back the way you came in, the city is a circle maze of roads and it's easy to get lost in (not just for me either!). Get a sausage from a street vendor for lunch and enjoy Bavaria!



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