May the Peace Be with Nuremberg

Nuremberg is the second-largest city of Bavaria after its capital Munich. As the Holy Roman Empire had no set capital, each elected emperor occupied various residences or royal palaces as an imperial city based on their preference. Coupled with the city walls, the Nuremberg castle is regarded as one of the most formidable medieval fortifications in Europe.

It played a key role in the Nazi years. In the 1929 Party Rally, Adolf Hitler commemorated the fallen soldiers of WWI and the “Martyrs of the National Socialist Movement” next to the Hall of Honour Ehrenhalle, to attract the soldiers to sacrifice lives. Zeppelinfeld and Luitpoldarena served as the deployment areas and the Kongresshalle was a congress center for NSDAP.

Other than the boycott of Jewish businesses and the enactment of anti-Semitic Nuremberg Laws, Nuremberg was chosen as the site of the Nuremberg Trials of Nazi war criminals. Göring, Hess, Speer and 21 other Nazi leaders, who were under the command of the “Führer”, were tried for crimes against peace and humanity by the Allies in the Courtroom 600, Der Saal 600.

With the International Military Tribunal, the idea of a "world criminal court" was implemented for the first time. The basic principles were adopted as the “Nuremberg Principles", becoming the basis for modern international criminal justice. It was only with the Rome Statute of 1998, and the International Criminal Court in Hague in 2003 that the demand for a permanent legal authority for international criminal law was fulfilled.

Known as the “treasure chest of the German Empire”, the city operated one of the oldest and most famous Xmas Markets. Strolling through the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, mulled wine and lebkuchen are a must. One should not miss the gingerbread, bratwurst, and the wooden nutcrackers, which Tchaikovsky adopted from Hoffmann’s short story into a classical ballet.

“The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” was about Marie Stahlbaum's favorite Xmas toy, the Nutcracker, who came alive and defeated the Mouse King. Her godfather Drosselmeyer shared how the Nutcracker was cursed by the Mouse Queen and banished by the ungrateful princess Pirlipat from the castle. Her love broke the curse and was crowned as queen in the doll kingdom.

Nuremberg has partnerships with 13 cities and friendly relations with 8 additional communities. On the north of the Main Market Square, the Sister Cities’ Market brings international flair. With the Gothic church Frauenkirche standing on the eastern side, and the fountain Schöner Brunnen as a glittering background, who could resist the temptation of the little festive joy?