The ancient and famous town of Nürnberg (Nuremberg), once a free imperial city, lies in the well-wooded plain of the Middle Franconian Basin, on the river Pegnitz and the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal (the "Europa-Kanal"), making it Germany's newest port. It is the second-largest city in Bavaria and one of the leading industrial and commercial centers in South Germany.
The National Germanic Museum in Nuremberg exhibits artifacts of German art and culture. These include a coin collection, paintings, archives and decorative arts.
Located in Lorenzer Platz, St Lawrence's Church was built between the 13th and 15th C. Of particular interest inside is the "Annunciation" by Veit Stoss.
To the southeast of Nuremberg is the Luitpoldhain, with the Meistersingerhalle (concert hall, congress center). Farther south are the Dutzendteich park, with a number of small lakes, and the remains of the Reichsparteitaggelände, the arena built for Nazi party rallies.
International Organ Weeks runs from late June to mid-July and is one of Europe's oldest celebrations of sacred music. Since its inception in 1951, it has offered over 40 annual performances, including choral concerts, organ recitals and seminars. A contest for organ improvisation runs concurrently with the festival. The grand organs in St Egidien Church, St Sebald Church and Meistersingen Hall are among those featured during various performances.
Address: Internationale Orgelwoche Nürnberg, Lorenzer Platz 10a, D-90402 Nuremberg, Germany
Near the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal in the Schweinau district of Nuremberg rises the 282m/925ft high Telecommunications Tower (1980; viewing platform, revolving restaurant).
The Nuremberg U-Bahn was opened in 1972 and is made up of 2 lines with 23.2km of track. There are 46 stations, 26 of which are underground.
The system serves about 90 million people yearly with a rolling stock of 75 two-car sets. There are 12 additional two-car sets on order. During peak hours trains run every 3.3 mins.
The Imperial Castle in Nürnberg is an ancient castle of Burgraves. It features a Romanesque two-story chapel, an Imperial hall, Belvedere tower and a well.
Kaiserberg in Nuremberg.
Address: Imperial Castle, Staatl. Burgverwaltung Burg 13, D-90403 Nuremberg, Germany
Hours:
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Day after Christmas, St Stephen's Day, Boxing Day (December 26), New Year's Eve (December 31), Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24), Easter - Christian
The Old Town Festival is an annual festival, one of the biggest musical and folk festivals in Germany. The 10 day festival takes place in mid-September, in Nuremberg, and features a full program of 60 events. The repertoire includes folk, jazz, pop, rock and many other styles of contemporary music.
In the northwestern suburb of St Johannis in Nuremberg can be found the St Johannis Cemetery, with the graves of many notable citizens of Nürnberg, including Dürer, Veit Stoss, the humanist Willibald Pirkheimer and Hans Sachs.