Early summer 2009

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Between 1050 and 1571, all Kaisers and kings of the Holy Roman Empire resided in Nuremberg Castle. In 1140, King Conrad III started building a second castle on the site, which was to be the royal residence.

In the 13th century, Nuremberg became an Imperial Free City. In 1381, the 'good king', Baron Eppelein von Gailingen, famously escaped death on the gallows when his horse leapt into the castle moat.

In the second quarter of the 19th century, measures were taken to preserve the buildings, in particular by Carl Alexander Heideloff, August von Voit and August Essenwein.

The castle was heavily damaged during the Second World War with only the double chapel remaining entirely intact. After the war, all parts of the castle were restored to their historical form (as often happened throughout Germany), including the Luginsland tower, which had been completely destroyed.

Spring 2009

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In the old part of the city. Taken 13 April 2009

Tags:   Nürnberg Nuremberg Nämberch Bavaria Bayern

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In 1933, the National Socialists decided that Nuremberg was to be the 'City of the Party Rallies'. They created a link between the Nazi movement and Nuremberg's glorious past as 'Free City of the Empire' and venue for the imperial diets in the middle ages. This is why they staged the annual NSDAP party rallies here ever year in September until 1938.

Designed by Albert Speer in the city's southern districts, the 'Party Rally Grounds' were erected as a huge parade ground on an area of eleven square kilometers. Zeppelin Field, Zeppelin Grandstand, the unfinished Congress Hall and a large excavation intended for the planned German Stadium are what remains of the monstrous stone legacy left behind by this regime of terror.

The Documentation Centre Party Rally Grounds, opened in 2001, is located in the north wing of the unfinished shell of the Congress Hall. On 1,300 square meters, the permanent exhibition 'Fascination and Terror' deals with the causes, contexts and consequences of the National Socialist rule of terror.

The focus of the 19 exhibition areas is on topics which relate directly to Nuremberg, arranged in chronological order. Topics include the history of the party rallies, the buildings on the Party Rally Grounds, the 'Nuremberg Racial Laws' of 1935, the 'Nuremberg Trial' (in 1945) of the main war criminals responsible for Nazi crimes, the twelve follow-up trials, and the difficult process of dealing with the architectural legacy left behind after 1945.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, there is a Study Forum which is of central importance to the work of the Documentation Center Party Rally Grounds. In special seminar rooms located on the roof of the Congress Hall, Nuremberg Municipal Museums in co-operation with several partners, offer an in-depth educational program for school classes, youth groups and groups of adults. The programs on offer range from 45 minutes of discussion after visiting the exhibition, to full seminar days.

Since May 2006, an information system with 23 units has given on-the-spot information about the historical grounds, making individual tours of the former Party Rally Grounds possible. It constitutes an important supplement to the exhibition in the Documentation Center.

www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal_e/kultur/ctz_10502.html

I lived about 10 minutes walk from the Documentation Centre.

Photo taken early February 2009.

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Spring 2009

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