Photos

pboehringer (770) 2006-06-09 17:32

Great POV and light conditions captured with prolonged exposure. At the same time it documents this most beautiful square with the antique historical buildings in the background, however reminding us that it is FIFA Worldcup time.
Greetings, Peter

soni (315) 2006-06-12 19:29

Hi Krzysztof, thanks for the great picture of the Market square but I think that this old historical town deserves a more detailed description.

Nuremberg is one of the most prominent towns in the history of Germany, being the residence of almost all German emperors.

From 1050 to 1571, the city was a regular stop on the progression of the Holy Roman Emperor, particularly because Reichstage (Imperial Diets) and courts met at Nuremberg Castle. The Diets of Nuremberg were an important part of the administrative structure of the empire.

In 1219 Nuremberg became an Imperial Free City under Emperor Frederick II. Nuremberg soon became, with Augsburg, one of the two great trade centers on the route from Italy to Northern Europe.

It was also the center of the German Renaissance in the 15th and 16th century.

The first German railway, from Nuremberg to nearby Fürth, was opened in 1835.

Because of its relevance to the Holy Roman Empire, in line with the connotations raised by the term Third Reich, the Nazis chose the city as the site of their large NSDAP party conventions. A number of premises were specially constructed for these assemblies, as well as other buildings, some of which were not finished. To this date, many examples of Nazi architecture can be seen in the city, making it an interesting visit for those interested in the History of Germany overall.

After Adolf Hitler came to power, Nuremberg was made a national shrine by the National Socialists, who held their annual party congresses nearby from 1933 through 1938. The city was the home of the Nazi leader Julius Streicher and became a center of anti-Semitic propaganda.

During World War II, Nuremberg was the Headquarters of Military District/Wehrkreis XIII, and an important site for the production of airplane, submarine, and tank engines. The industrial areas of the city were severely damaged in air raids (1943/44).

In 1945, the medieval city center was systematically bombed by the British and Americans and was largely (90%) destroyed in only one hour, with 1 800 residents killed and roughly 100 000 left homeless. In February 1945, additional attacks followed. All in all, 6 000 residents of Nuremberg are estimated to have been killed in air raids. Despite this, the city was rebuilt after the war and was to some extent restored to its pre-war appearance, down to the replication of some of its medieval buildings.

Between 1945 and 1949, German officials involved in the Holocaust were taken in front of a tribunal in the Nuremberg Trials.