City Information

Nuremberg, or Nürnberg [nürn'berk"], combines the excitement of a modern metropolis of half a million inhabitants with the old-world charm of a lovely medieval city center. A city in S. Germany, on the Pegnitz Tiver and the Rhine-Main Danube Canal it is one of the great historic cities of Germany and now also an important commercial, industrial and transportation center. It dates back to the 11th century (first mentioned in 1050), received a charter in 1219 and made a free imperial city by the end of the 13th century. By then it had become one of the two great trade centers on the route from Italy to N Europe.

In the 15th and 16th centuries Nuremberg had become the center of the German Renaissance with artists and sculptors bringing together the Italian Renaissance and the German Gothic traditions. The city was also an early center of humanism, science, printing, and mechanical invention. It was here that a printing press and Regiomontanus an observatory was set up. The first pocket watches, known as 'Nuremberg eggs' were made here as well. Nuremberg was known for its contests of meistersingers (mastersingers) and among them was also the shoemaker poet Hans Sachs (1494-1576)

However, the city declined after the Thirty Years War and recovered its importance only in the 19th century when it grew as an industrial center. In 1806, Nuremberg passed to Bavaria. After Hitler came to power, Nuremberg became a center for the Nazis and was to become the center of anti-Semitic propaganda. As the producer of airplanes, submarines and tank engines Nuremberg was heavily bombed and largely destroyed by the Allies during World War II.

Since 1945 the city’s architectural beauty has been restored and in the Old Town beautiful Gothic churches, romantic rows of half-timbered buildings and sleepy cobblestoned squares create an unforgettable atmosphere. Albrecht Dürer, Adam Kraft and Veit Stoss all created famous works of art in Nuremberg. The Old Town also provides a fitting backdrop for events like the world-famous Christkindl Christmas market, and Germany’s biggest Old Town Festival. The medieval Kaiserburg Castle towers over the Old Town and the 5km city wall with its eighty towers. Impressive works of art include the “Männleinlaufen” figures running around the huge clock in the Church of Our Lady. The fountain 'Schoner Brunnen' with a mysterious 'lucky ring' in its latticework is in the Market Square. Another fountain worth a visit is the Ehekarussel or the 'marriage roundabout' based on the verses of the cobbler poet Hans Sachs, depicting the 'bitter-sweetness of married life' At the Handwerkerhof traditional craftsmen can be seen at work in a historical setting – including glass-blowing, pewter-casting and leatherwork.

Nuremberg’s churches, its museums and its gardens promise an old world charm even in a city with a checkered past

The Stadium

The Franken-Stadion was inaugurated in 1991. It's capacity was increased to 45,000 for the World Cup 2006 tournament, and will be holding a crowd of just over 31,000 for the two games it is hosting.

It is currently the home for FC Nürnberg.

The Franken-Stadion was first inaugurated in 1928, and had two major renovations (1988-1991 & 2002-2006).