This very old spectacular city, crowned with the castle at the hill, was one of main tourism aims for many of us. That day we could meet Albrecht Dürer, the most magnifiscent inhabitant of Nürnberg. And the atmosphere of the gothic churches in the old city I can never forget.
    Nürnberg expects you at least one full-time day, be prepared for it. That time we gathered about (at least) ten of us and at the very morning carried our bodies into the train. But around the noon we were literally hungry of curiosity.

You will not guess where you will sleep this night! From the station through the main promenade we approached the castle. The knights and the ladies were entertained by the prince that evening: the Youth Hostel is situated right in the heart of Nürnberg, in the KAISERSBERG CASTLE.
    You can see the magnifiscent view of roofs and towers of old houses and churches from there. You can walk around the castle buildings, the courtyard, the paths... but to get inside the "proper" walls, you must pay. The party costed DM 7.
    The castle, being built between XI and XVI centuries, is situated at the top of the hill, sitting on a specific kind of rocks.
 
 
 
 

ALBRECHT DÜRER (1471-1528):  German painter, graphic artist and the theoretician of art; representative of the Renaissance. This is what the encyclopedia drily states.
    In the house-MUSEUM of this artist of genius, situated in the vicinity of the castle, you can watch his age of puberty, his mature works, see the reproductions of his most famous masterpieces (e.g. Apocalypse, Melancholia). You can even meet his wife who, speaking to you in one of 4 languages, will show you round all the rooms, not excluding his workshop.
    In the end you can sit in a comfortable cinema and see the story of his life once again.
 
 
 

   Going down from the hill, you can see many parts of the old city destroyed during the WW II and rebuilt in hurry. However much has survived and the city has made serious efforts in reconstructions. Some tenements originate even from XIV century. But look at the churches!
    I guess noone from the Mediterranean region will understand me ;-)  but I will never forget the magic atmosphere - awaiting for pilgrims entering the ST SEBALDUS' CHURCH. The stain-glass windows... the monuments of saints...the specific kind of stone as well as tombs and paintings makes this gothic church one of most mystic I have seen.
 

    As you stop at the Main Square (HAUPTMARKT) you may feel disappointed; you can see where chariots of war were rushing: the post-war architecture of hurrily built tenements...

    ...but there are two precious pearls there: the Lady's Church (FRAUENKIRCHE), whose façade is the prettiest before sunset, and the "Beautiful Fountain" (SCHÖNER BRUNNEN), inviting especially at the evening.
 
 

    Another remarkable old church, the LORENZKIRCHE, stands rather to the south. In that temple few masterpieces by WEIT STOß (WIT STWOSZ) are shown. This magnifiscent sculptor of the late gothic is well known for all our polish commando, since he spent significant part of his life in Cracow (it's one of reasons of the partnership between those two cities).
 

   ... By the way of Nürnberg, who will tell me how many kilometers of medieval walls this city has?

   ... And who will tell me the name of that <ladies'> street? It is somewhere by one of the walls. Hihi, our girls were jealous and complained why there is no <men's> street in this city? I am not the Amsterdamer so it was all the new experience for me, especially the fact that the <ladies> in bikini payed completely NO attention at us... we must have not looked too rich ;-)

    Are you fed up? Do you already want to get back? Wait, wait for the moment! I have something special for you.
    Have you ever seen the lizard ridden by the death? or the swan pecking its own flesh? Do NOT omit the chance to see the FOUNTAIN by the White Tower (WEIß TURM). The impression is unforgettable, I can guarantee!
 
 

And in the evening you can taste the Nürnbergian beer, served for instance in the pub by the castle walls. Delicious!

    Nürnberg is one of those directions, that one <should> take from GSI. The castle, churches, fountains... Maybe not all the places of the old city keep that specific atmosphere, but you will not forget this city so fast...

    On our sunday's way back to GSI we managed to spend few hours in Würzburg ..but that is already the other story...
 
 
 

    It should take you about 3h 40' to get to Nürnberg (by trains on the way through Frankfurt and Würzburg).
    The Youth Hostel is situated in the castle Kaisersberg at the old city. One night in dormitory costed 29 DM (for YH Card owners), bed-linen and breakfast are included.
    If you are not the owner of the YH Card, you MUST buy there the card allowing you to sleep 6 * in the current year as if you were the full YH member. This card costs 6 DM and you automatically use one 'entry', sleeping in this hostel.
    You can see the map of Nürnberg from the internet, under www.nuernberg.de.
    Our data were valid in 1999.