Nuremberg

This article is about the city in Germany. See also Nürnberg for other things named after Nuremberg and Nuremberg, Pennsylvania, USA.

Nuremberg (German: Nürnberg) is a City in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. It is situated on the Pegnitz river and the (Rhine-)Main-Danube Canal. Population (as of 06/2005) is 497,213.

History

Middle Ages

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.

On 14 April 1561, a large number of 'plates', 'blood-coloured crosses', and 'two great tubes' staged an aerial dog-fight, enthralling and frightening the whole population of Nuremberg.

Nuremberg is notorious for owning the first (and only during Medieval times) Iron Maiden torturing device.

Modern World

The cultural flowering of Nuremberg in the 15th and 16th centuries made it the center of the German Renaissance.

In 1525, Nuremberg accepted the Reformation, and in 1532, the religious Peace of Nuremberg, by which the Lutherans gained important concessions, was signed there. During the Thirty Years War, in 1632, Gustavus II was besieged in Nuremberg by Wallenstein. The city declined after the war and recovered its importance only in the 19th century, when it grew as an industrial center. In 1806, Nuremberg passed to Bavaria. The first German railway, from Nuremberg to nearby Fürth, was opened in 1835.

20th century

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, including the famous Nuremberg rallies captured in Leni Riefenstahl's 1934 film Triumph of the Will.

During World War II, Nuremberg was 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). On January 2nd, 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. However, the pre-war splendour of the city seems to be lost forever.

After the end of World War II, the city became famous for the trials of Nazi officials for war crimes, the Nuremberg Trials.

In order to come to terms with the role Nuremberg played during the Third Reich, the city established the "Nuremberg International Human Rights Award" in 1995, which is awarded every second year to individuals or groups defending human rights worldwide.

Economy

A notable industrial center, Nuremberg is still associated with its traditional gingerbread (Lebkuchen) products, sausages and handmade toys. The first pocket watches, the Nürnberg eggs, were made here in the 16th century. Items manufactured include electrical equipment, mechanical and optical products, motor vehicles, chemicals, textiles, and printed materials. A third of the German consumer research companies are located in Nuremberg. The Nuremberg Toy Fair is the biggest worldwide.

Nuremberg has an airport with flights to major German cities and selected European destinations as well as connecting flights worldwide via Frankfurt International Airport. The city's location next to numerous highways, railways and a waterway has contributed to its rising importance for trade with Eastern Europe.

Culture

Nuremberg was an early center of humanism, science, printing, and mechanical invention.

The city contributed much to the science of Astronomy. In 1471 Johannes Mueller of Königsberg (Bavaria), later called Regiomontanus, built an astronomical observatory in Nuremberg and published many important astronomical charts. In 1515, Albrecht Dürer, a native of Nuremberg, mapped the stars of the northern and southern hemispheres, producing the first printed star charts, which had been ordered by Johann Stabius. Around 1515 Dürer also published the "Stabiussche 'Weltkarte', the first perspective reproduction of the terrestrial globe. Perhaps most famously, the main part of Nicolaus Copernicus' work was published in Nuremberg in 1543.

Printers and publishers have a long history in Nuremberg. Many of these publishers worked with well-known artists of the day to produce books that could also be considered works of art. Others furthered geographical knowledge and travel by mapmaking. Two of these were navigator and geographer Martin Behaim, who made the first world globe, and Hartmann Schedel, who wrote his World Chronicles (Schedelsche Weltchronik) in the local Franconian dialect.

Sculptors like Veit Stoss and Peter Vischer are also associated with Nuremberg.

Composed of prosperous artisans, the guilds of the Meistersingers flourished here. Richard Wagner made their most famous member, Hans Sachs, the hero of his opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel was born here and was organist of St. Sebald church.

Arts and Architecture

The following churches are located inside the city walls: St. Sebald, St. Lorenz, Frauenkirche (Our Lady's Chapel), St. Klara, St. Martha, St. Jakob, St. Egidien, and St. Elisabeth. The church of the previous Katharienkloster is preserved as a ruin, the Cartause is integrated in the building of the Germanisches Nationalmuseum and the choir of the previous Franzikanerkirche is part of a modern building. The Walburga Chapel and the romanic "Doppelkapelle" (Chapel with two floors) are part of Nuremberg Castle.

The "Johanniskirchhof" with many old graves (Albrecht Dürer, Willibald Pirckheimer, etc.), the "Rochuskirchhof", or the Wöhrder Kirchhof are near the Old Town.

Sister Cities

Worldwide, Nuremberg is twinned with the following cities:

Famous denizens

Other famous denizens of the city include: Albrecht Dürer, Adam Kraft, Hans Behaim the Elder (architect), Anton Koberger, Conrad Paumann, and Hans Sachs.

Miscellaneous items related to Nuremberg

Nuclear physics   Index

This page is based on the Wikipedia article ''Nuremberg''. It is licensed under the GNU free documentation license.

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