Page 519 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

GERM AN Y  517

8 Rothenburg ob
der Tauber
* 11,000. £ n Marktplatz 2
(09861-40 48 00).
∑ tourismus.rothenburg.de
Encircled by ramparts, Rothenburg
is a perfectly preserved medieval
town in a picturesque setting
on the banks of the Tauber river.
At the heart of the town is
Marktplatz, whose focal point
is the Rathaus (Town Hall),
combining Renaissance and
Gothic styles. Off the main square,
St. Jakobs Kirche (1373–1464)
and the Franziskanerkirche both
contain many historical treasures. Rothenburg’s Rathaus (Town Hall), built in the 14th century
Two museums of note are the
Reichsstadtmuseum, devoted massive 15th and 16th-century celebrated Renaissance painter
to the town’s history, and the ramparts. A short walk away is lived in 1509–28. Copies of a
Mittelalterliches Museum, which the Germanisches National- wide selection of his works
contains a large collection of museum. Founded in 1853, are on display here.
medieval instruments of torture. the museum houses a superb A climb up Burgstraße
Through the Burgtor, a gate- collection of antiquities from brings you to the Kaiserburg,
way in the city walls, you arrive the German-speaking world, the imperial castle complex.
at the Burggarten – pretty including masterworks by The oldest surviving part
gardens offering great views. Tilman Riemenschneider, Lucas is a pentagonal tower, the
Cranach the Elder (1472–1553), Fünfeckturm, which dates
9 Nuremberg and Albrecht Dürer (1471–1528). from 1040. At its foot is the
Kaiserstallung (Imperial Stables),
Overlooking the bustling
* 486,000. k £ n Königstraße Lorenzer Platz, the Gothic St. now a youth hostel.
93 (0911-233 60). ∑ tourismus. Lorenz-Kirche is one of the city’s At the Christkindlmarkt, the
nuernberg.de most important churches. Begun lively Christmas fair held during
in 1270, it boasts some glorious Advent in the Hauptmarkt, you
The largest town in Bavaria after stained-glass windows. can warm yourself with a glass of
Munich, Nuremberg (Nürnberg) As you cross over the Pegnitz hot red wine spiced with cloves
flourished in the 15th and 16th to the north side of town, look and buy locally made crafts.
centuries, when many out for the Heilig-Geist-Spital
prominent artists, craftsmen, (Hospital of the Holy Spirit), E Germanisches
and intellectuals worked here, which dates from 1332 and Nationalmusuem
making it a leading European spans the river. Kartaüsergasse 1. Tel 0911-13 310.
cultural center. The city is A major landmark north of Open Tue–Sun. &
divided in two by the Pegnitz the river is the Frauenkirche, E Albrecht-Dürer-Haus
river. In the southern half, the commissioned by the Holy Albrecht–Dürer-Straße 39. Tel 0911-
mighty Frauentor is one of Roman Emperor Charles IV in 231 25 68. Open Tue–Sun (Jul–Sep:
several gateways in the the mid-14th century. Also of daily). & 8
importance is the Albrecht-
Dürer-Haus, where the

The half-timbered buildings of Nuremberg’s Kaiserburg at the top of Burgstraße

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