{mosgoogle}After Heidelberg, Nuremberg is the city we've visited the second most often # over a half-dozen times.  Most of those visits were for various festivals, especially its world-famous Christmas Market (multiple times, and we've definitely go back!).  It has one of the greatest set of landmarks, a tremendous history (including recent), and it's perfectly situated in the center of Bavaria.  It sits at the junctions of major train and autobahn routes, on the Pegnitz River canal that helps connect the Main and Danube Rivers together.

Nuremberg's traces its origins were as a trading settlement on the Pegnitz River almost a millenium ago, but it would grow rapidly in the middle ages to be a major cultural center and seat of the Holy Roman Emporer.  In more modern times, it is probably better remembered as the site of the Nuremberg Trials that tried a number of World War II criminals.  But regular visitors to the city simply remember it as a wonderful place to go for shopping, eating, drinking, and relaxing.

Nuremberg has one of the largest pedestrian zones in Germany, covering roughly 70% of the massive Altstadt.  On a summer afternoon, pedestrians can number well into the thousands, roaming the shopping districts that sit on both sides of the River and the markets and along Konigstrasse.  Among these are massive throngs of tourists who know that almost every weekend has a celebration of some kind going on in the market square.

Nuremberg is also famous for its food.  Nuremberger bratwursts are well-known around Germany.  They are a small white sausage that resemble the so-called American breakfast sausage.  During the Christmas Market season, Nuremberg has the lebkuchen, "life cake" which is a type of gingerbread.

This travelogue is divided into five chapters, including this introduction.  The below map will help guide you.  The old city downtown is divided into three segments.  The Kaiserburg chapter covers the castle district at the city's northwest.  The next chapter covers the Sebald borough containing the old city from the Pegnitz River north.  It includes the Frauenkirche pictured above with Tom and most of the festival grounds.  The Lorenz borough contains the commercial zone with some of Nuremberg's more unusual landmarks.  Finally, the Dutzendteich chapter covers the old Nazi Party rally grounds located to the town's southeast.  Nowadays, the grounds are used for other purposes # large city festivals, sailing on the lake, museums, and the Frankenstadion where the 1. FC Nuremberg soccer team plays.  Enjoy!