Travel stories | Nuremberg, Germany
Travel stories | Nuremberg | a little getaway
As you may already know, I’m currently travelling through Europe for a Winter holiday break (August & September) from Canberra, Australia.
Let’s stroll into the pretty town of Nuremberg, Germany. We chose to stay here for 4 nights based on previous travels that 2-3 days never seem long enough to enjoy (when travelling overseas). This length is perfect to unwind, relax, see a range of sights and feel ready for the next destination.
Cobbled streets, fairy lights, castles, formal gardens, pretty flower boxes, churches are just a few of the highlights which make this town worth visiting. We were spellbound by its storybook look … every corner you turned had something even more perfect to look at.
Where to stay | My top recommendation is Karl August. I chose this for the pool as I like to swim and it was going to be the peak of Summer. I also chose it for the size of the rooms. I find a small loft or studio room can make you feel cozy and relaxed almost instantaneously. Sometimes you don’t need everything. Simply enjoy the little things that matter.
Where to eat | I’m not going to list endless recommendations. Everyone has their own tastes, needs and budgets. The following do need a little shout out.
Cafe Pique Nique for gourmet delights! For freshly baked pastries, best salmon brioche rolls (we had them twice and perfect for a train trip), a mouth melting lemon cake and of course a great flat white this is a one stop shop. Staff were friendly and welcoming (even though they work hard - 10 hour shifts).
We had lunch at Franconian Weinstube in the Craftsmen’s Courtyard and shared a platter of smoked, cooked and boiled sausages with sauerkraut and bread. It was a basic ploughmans platter but enough to enjoy with a local ale and cheery service.
Plaza markets because sometimes you just want something fresh … there’s only so many pastries one can eat. An early morning outing to buy plump, mouthwatering raspberries and blueberries from a local farmer, finding a free seat to watch the locals made us slow down. Hence the four days stay - be in the moment.
What to do | Again, this is personal and my recommendations are based on a love of gardens, art, architecture and history. If travelling with little ones, I recommend blogger Jessica Wright @bontraveler - she travels everywhere with her little one (and partner) in tow.
Imperial Castle but if you think you’ve seen a few then skip this for going inside. The outside is just as amazing with beautiful gardens in Summer. My favourite was the formal Burgermeistengarten. I can’t find a good link but my photos provide you with an idea. There are city views too and you’ll find people picnicking and smooching. Sigh! Young love!
For cobblestones, pretty flower boxes, arts and crafts we stumbled across the Craftsmen’s Courtyard. The first shop I went into was a glass collective. It means glass makers share the space, roster and make some works on site. I bought a pair of earrings and a glass decoration for our Christmas tree. The next shop had wooden decorations and then a ceramic shop/studio owned by the artist who kindly let me photograph her. I wanted to buy more artworks but carry on baggage means limitations. We have already posted gifts home to Australia … so now I’m just admiring instead.
The old town is walkable. Everything is flat, give or take a few ascents - particularly near the castle. Sometimes we planned our day and others we simply wandered aimlessly. That’s when we would turn a corner and see an old bridge and waterways glistening, facades with old mosaics or murals, quaint buildings in colours from cream to terracotta reds and churches that were round, small or large.
There are lots of little lanes dotted with boutique shops. I found one which had women’s clothing, sleepwear and home interiors. I bought a lightweight knit top as the weather had dropped unexpectedly down to 15 degrees during the height of summer.
A hidden gem? My partner in crime recommended a visit to Albrecht Duerer’s house as he had seen this artist’s work in Munich and Vienna. I had no idea he was Germany’s most famous artist. Based on one of his self portraits, I did think he could be taken for musician Daniel Johns from the Australian band Silverchair. If you love the visual arts or simply keen to see a home from 1509 then visit this gem. At the time we went, your admission included an audio headset and provided fascinating insights not necessarily captured on the museum’s labels.
I hope you enjoyed this little story. As you can imagine I have so much more to say. But over to you to dream and visit one day.
Anne xx
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