Nuremberg

1 December 2022

6 days from £2,195pp

Travel to the heart of Germany and discover the fairytale architecture of Nuremberg. Wrap up warm and fill yourself with festive cheer as you experience a private organ recital at St Sebaldus, visit the Germanisches Nationalmuseum and explore charming countryside towns.

Experience the festive atmosphere in Nuremberg with a special organ recital at St Sebaldus
Enjoy visits to lesser known, yet splendid sights in the Franconian countryside such as Ansbach and Heilsbronn
Immerse yourself in the most comprehensive collection of German history at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum
Enjoy a private view of prints by Albrecht Dürer and contemporaries

For centuries Nuremberg was one of the greatest cities of the German Empire, situated at the crossroads between Hamburg and Venice, Paris and Prague, famous for its arts and crafts, and birthplace of Albrecht Dürer, Germany’s most famous artist. Luther claimed that “Nuremberg shines throughout Germany, like a sun among the moon and stars”. Sadly, the city’s WWII history – Nazi rallies and the trials of 1945-49 – has overshadowed much of its glorious past; indeed, it was the Nazi exploitation of Nuremberg’s patriotic significance which led to its destruction by Allied bombers. Notwithstanding great losses, Nuremberg features a wonderfully restored medieval old town overlooked by a grand castle, two magnificent parish churches brimming with late mediaeval and Renaissance works of art, and the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, an unparalleled collection of German art and culture. Moreover, the city’s 400 year old Christmas Market continues to retain its charm and traditional atmosphere with the air filled with aromas from scrumptious gingerbread, bratwurst and mulled wine.

Day 1:
Morning flight from London Heathrow to Munich. Transfer by private coach to Nuremberg, stopping en route at the handsome market town of Schwabach. Highlight of its parish church is the magnificent carved and painted polyptych – one of the largest of its kind – by Veit Stoss and Dürer’s master, the painter Michael Wolgemut. Upon arrival in Nuremberg, an introductory walk will be followed by dinner in the hotel.
Day 2:
Explore Nuremberg on foot, starting from the Imperial Castle, dramatically sited on a red sandstone rock above the northern edge of the old town. Nearby, the Fembohaus, a rich Renaissance patrician mansion, is now a museum dedicated to the town history. Over the lunch break there will be time to stroll across to the Christmas Market. St Sebaldus, Nuremberg’s oldest parish church, houses Peter Vischer’s masterpiece, the brass shrine of the church’s titular saint, and a wealth of Gothic and Renaissance wood and stone sculpture. A private organ recital will complete the day.
Day 3:
Full day coach excursion to Heilsbronn and Ansbach. Ansbach was the former residence of the Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach. Once the Hohenzollern had lost their Nuremberg possessions, they settled in Ansbach – and continually waged war against their former homeland. Their palace, substantially refurbished in the 18th-century, preserves its delightful Rococo interiors in a unique and pristine condition. En route we stop at the Cistercian abbey of Heilsbronn, a little-known treasure trove, replete with magnificent Hohenzollern funerary monuments and carved and gilded altarpieces.
Day 4:
A second day in Nuremberg will take us to the city’s second great parish church of St Lawrence, with a superb range of stained glass windows, a large tabernacle by Adam Kraft who allegedly was able to “bend stone” and a great wooden Annunciation group by Veit Stoss suspended in the choir. We may be granted special access to the belfry and roof spaces to explore the magnificent theatrical application of Stoss’ masterwork. The Germanisches Nationalmuseum is the most comprehensive collection of German cultural history. Its stunning galleries make this a world-class experience, with objects including gorgeous Ostrogothic jewellery, a priceless Ottonian gold and ivory book cover, and of course, works by Dürer, Cranach, and Riemenschneider.
Day 5:
In the morning we visit the Tucher Mansion, built between 1533 and 1544. Its exhibits, including fine crafts work, furniture, tapestries and paintings, vividly recreate the world of Nuremberg's 16th-century merchant families. Afterwards we return to the Germanisches Nationalmuseum for a private view of late Gothic and Renaissance prints. This afternoon is free before we enjoy a final dinner in a gourmet restaurant.
Day 6:
In the morning, the coach takes us to Eichstätt, a charming little town, home to a cathedral boasting artworks from contemporaries of Albrecht Dürer and assimilating models by the leading Nuremberg artist. After a communal lunch in a traditional Eichstätt restaurant we continue to Munich airport for an early evening flight to London Heathrow.

Return flights with BA from London Heathrow to Munich Airport
Private coach transfers and excursions
Five nights’ bed and breakfast in the four star Hotel Victoria Nuremberg
Two dinners and one lunch
Guided visits to sites listed in the programme
Services of the Lecturer and Tour Manager
Detailed programme and study notes.
All entrance fees, taxes and gratuities for coach drive

Dr Ulrike Ziegler

Specialising in mediaeval art and in cultural politics of post-war Germany at the universities of Regensburg and Aberdeen, Dr Ulrike Ziegler is a well-respected member of Art Pursuits Abroad and has lectured at universities and for multiple cultural institutions, along with organising and leading many study tours in both Germany and Austria. Ulrike is now working on Art Pursuits Abroad’s German programme.

Fly from London Heathrow

Return flights from London Heathrow are included in our package on our specific arrival and departure dates plus one item of checked in luggage, per person.

Transfers will also be included on our specific arrival and departure dates to take you to your holiday destination. If you choose to arrive or depart on a different day, there may be an additional supplement charged to cover your transfer costs.

Overview

The independently owned, four star Hotel Victoria was established in 1896 and offers excellent service. Located in Nüremberg’s Old Town, the hotel’s modern interior has a lobby bar and outdoor terrace.