December 1st: History and Holiday Cheer in Nuremberg

Greetings from Nuremberg! Today was another unforgettable day, filled with history, festive cheer, and some delicious food to keep us going. Let me tell you all about it!

A Heartwarming Breakfast to Start

We began the morning with a cozy breakfast at the Park Plaza Nuremberg. The buffet once again didn’t disappoint—fresh rolls, cheeses, eggs, and pastries to fuel us for the day ahead. By 10 AM, we were ready to dive into the day’s adventures with a tour exploring one of the most important chapters of Nuremberg’s history.

Nuremberg WWII Tour: Courtroom 600 and 3rd Reich Sites

Our guide, Rob, picked us up right from the hotel for the Viator Nuremberg WWII Tour. Joining us were a family of four from southern Ohio (just a stone’s throw from Huntington, WV) and a mother-daughter duo from Pennsylvania and Arizona. It was funny seeing the mom and daughter again—they were part of our culinary tour yesterday!

The tour began at the Nazi Party Rally Grounds, a massive site that gave us a sobering glimpse into history. Rob explained how the grounds were used to stage Nazi propaganda events, showing us photos and sharing stories that made the scale and impact of the events feel real.

This Memorial Hall, for WWI casualties, is the only building left at the Parade Grounds.

The buildings at the far end of the Parade Grounds are buried.

How it looked from the Memorial Hall in the 1930s.

Long granite road never finished. Was used as a runway by US military before Nuremberg Airport was finished.

Hitler wanted things even bigger than Caesar had in Rome, this was the uncompleted Nazi "Coliseum"

From there, we visited Zeppelin Field, where Hitler made many of his infamous speeches. It’s eerie to stand in a place where history took such a dark turn, but Rob did a fantastic job of making the tour both educational and respectful.

Our final stop was the Nuremberg Palace of Justice and its famous Courtroom 600, where the Nuremberg Trials were held. Walking into the courtroom, it was hard not to feel the weight of the justice served here after WWII. They told stories that made the space come alive, connecting us to the events in a powerful way.

They projected film of the proceedings on a sheer screen in front of the courtroom that showed up in the part of the courtroom where it happened.

The benches that Hermann Göring, Rudolf Hess, and other defendants sat. 

How it looked in the 40's and how it looks now. The room went back to being a local courtroom from the 50's to 2001 and took out some of the changes that were made for the trials

After the tour, Rob dropped us back at the hotel, and we took a little time to warm up before heading back out.

Evening in the Old City

As the afternoon faded into evening, we ventured into Nuremberg’s Old City, where holiday magic was in full swing. For dinner, we stopped at Bratwurstglöcklein, a cozy spot known for its delicious sausages. We tried two kinds of sausage, paired with creamy potato salad and tangy sauerkraut—comfort food at its best!

Children’s Christmas Market and Holiday Fun

After dinner, we walked to the Children’s Christmas Market, a delightful corner of the Christkindlesmarkt designed just for families. The highlight? Riding the beautiful merry-go-round, which sparkled with lights and festive decorations.

We strolled around the market some more, soaking in the cheerful atmosphere, and paused to listen to a choir singing outside the Frauenkirche church. Their voices filled the square, adding even more magic to the scene.

As we strolled through the city, thought this building was interesting,

Rings for Luck and Sweet Treats

Of course, we couldn’t leave without a visit to the Schöner Brunnen to turn the golden rings for luck.

 

 We also indulged in some Apfelküchle (fried apple slices)—crispy, sweet, and absolutely delicious.

Before heading back to the hotel, we picked up some treats for later: Original Thuringian Christmas Stollen (Fruit Cake) for Toni and Original Thuringer Mandelstollen (Almond Cake) for Rob. These festive cakes will make perfect snacks!

Winding Down

As the night grew colder, we made our way back to the Park Plaza, happy and full from the day’s adventures. Tomorrow, we’ll leave the Park Plaza Nuremberg and board the Avalon Illumination on the next part of adventure.

And look what is on German TV!!!  In German!!  I have been listening to the Steeler Radio broadcast on my SiriusXM app and can now see it. Funny that the TV is about 10 seconds ahead so watching with German sound and then hear the English after the play is over!