What a beautiful church! We stumbled across this church as we were driving around looking at the…read morecity. We found parking nearby and decided to wander in. This gorgeous church was built in the 1200s. It was decorated beautifully with trees for Christmas. It was quite cold inside as it was a cool day, and there is definitely no heat. However, that somehow adds to the charm. It is quite interesting that on the site of the church there was a chapel around 1070. It's amazing to know that there has been some type of religious building on this site for almost 1000 years. It puts your time on this planet into perspective very quickly. The church is free to enter, but they do suggest donations and there is a collection bowl near the entrance. If you are close by, I would definitely suggest a visit as it is definitely beautiful.

Amazing church built in the 1200s! You can freely walk inside, but donations are suggested. Amazing…read morelooking structure!

The Frauenkirche, Church of Our Lady, is a stunning Gothic church. However a brutal past lies…read moreburied beneath its foundation. The Gothic church was built by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV between 1352 to 1362. The church was constructed directly on the ruins of one of Nuremberg's main Jewish synagogues. During the Black Death in 1349, a brutal pogrom was orchestrated to remove Nuremberg's medieval Jewish quarter. The local community wanted the prized area for a new marketplace. They petitioned and were granted legal immunity to demolish the Jewish ghetto and confiscate the space. Over 500 Jewish residents were massacred. Homes destroyed. The local Jewish synagogue torn down to rubble. A thriving Jewish neighborhood erased almost overnight. The Holy Roman Emperor then commanded that this church be constructed on the site. A reminder of Imperial and Christian dominance. One of the most notable features of the church is the Männleinlaufen (little men's procession). This mechanical clock commemorates the Golden Bull of 1356. The clock mechanism is activated at midday, when a bell is rung to start the sequence and is followed by the trumpeters and drummer. Then a procession of the electors marches around the figure of the Holy Roman Emperor. Although the church itself is stunning, the history is dark. It stands as a sober reminder of how medieval politics, plague scapegoating and the Holy Roman Emperor collided to change the course of history in Nuremberg. Hundreds of years later, Nuremberg again was the center of history again.

I am not going to go through the history and facts of the church. Clearly another example of…read moreNuernberg's rich history as a medieval city. What makes this church stand out is the fact that it overlooks the main market place with it's many fruit and veggie stands, most with locally grown produce. Of course there are also food trucks and household wares to be had. The market place turns into a giant Christkindl Market and at its opening the Christkindl (which by the way is a Christmas angel - child of Christ) stands atop the church balcony and officially opens the Christkindl Market with a speech and blessings. Definitely worth attending, if you can squeeze in somehow, because be aware that it will be super crowded. Just before 12 noon you will see crowds gather looking up towards the top of the church. They are all waiting for the "Maennleinlaufen" were the figures start moving and the electors turn and face the Roman emperor. There are also musician figures that move as if playing their instruments.