Bavaria's Beautiful Second City Has Everything A Traveler Could Want, Per Rick Steves

Visitors to Germany are often swept away by the stunning beauty of Bavaria. For many, the picture postcard image is of alpine ranges, thick forests, and lush meadows dotted with breathtaking castles and medieval towns full of quaint timber-framed houses. Then there is the region's capital, Munich, which grabs most of the attention when it comes to city breaks thanks to its wealth of sights, museums, and reputation as one of the best European cities to visit during Oktoberfest. 

Sometimes Munich's reputation overshadows other great destinations in the region, such as Nuremberg. Travel expert Rick Steves raves about the city on his blog. "From a traveler's perspective, Nürnberg — Bavaria's second city — has it all: excellent museums, thought-provoking history, glorious red-sandstone Gothic architecture, and a charming Old Town encircled by a nearly intact medieval wall."

With a population of almost 570,000, Nuremberg is roughly a third of Munich's size and lies around a two-hour drive north of the regional capital. Both cities were reduced to rubble by Allied bombing during World War II, with around 90% of Nuremberg's buildings, including all but one of its 200 churches, destroyed by the onslaught. Luckily, most of the city's art was saved, stashed by the Nazis under Castle Hill. From the ruins, the medieval center was lovingly restored over more than two decades, giving rise to a modern city rich with history and a few reminders of its undesirable role under the Third Reich. Some cheerier claims to fame include Nuremberg's incredible Christmas Market and the beloved Nuremberg bratwurst, supposedly made so small that they could be sneakily slipped through Medieval keyholes. Let's take a look at some of the other highlights.

Nuremberg dates back to at least 1050 and it rose to become a powerhouse of the Holy Roman Empire in the 15th century. The Old Town, which is surrounded by sturdy Medieval walls, is most visitor's first port of call when visiting the city and most of the major historical sights are within walking distance. The Hauptmarkt and its aptly named Beautiful Fountain is watched over by the gorgeous Gothic 14th-century Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). It also plays host to what Rick Steves calls "Germany's grandest Christmas market."

The Old Town is overlooked by the Kaiserburg, or Imperial Castle, a formidable complex of medieval buildings and fortifications high on its hill. It isn't as pretty as some of Germany's other must-see castles, but it is still well worth a visit and offers terrific views across the city. For a sobering insight into Nuremberg's place under the Third Reich, head out to the Documentation Center and Nazi Party Rally Grounds. The museum is filled with fascinating exhibits that probe deep into this dark period of the country's history and the Rally Grounds, designed by Albert Speer, provide a daunting reminder of the Hitler's sinister might. Elsewhere, the Nuremberg Trials were held at the Palace of Justice, and the Street of Human Rights opened in 1993 as a denunciation of the city's past association with the Nazi regime.

There are many great restaurants in Nuremberg serving stylish modern cuisine, including two which have received Michelin stars. Yet most foodie visitors to Nuremberg will have two things top of their agenda: sausages and beer. One of the best places to sample the city's favorite bratwurst is Zum Gulden Stern, a glorious old inn dating back to 1419. As you enter the cozy historic restaurant you will be welcomed by the aroma of homemade sausages grilling over an open wood fire. While there are other things on the menu, the brats are the star of the show, served on a metal plate with a choice of traditional sides. Naturally, the best thing to wash them down with is a foaming half-liter of local Franconian beer.

Nuremberg is historically a big brewery town and it prides itself as the home of bottom-fermented red beer. The tradition goes back to the Middle Ages and one of the most interesting places to sample some is Hausbrauerei Alstadthof. Established in 1984, the craft brewery and distillery is a relative whippersnapper on the Nuremberg beer scene, but it is the end point for a guided tour of the Historic Rock-Cut Cellars, a labyrinth hewn in the 14th century to store beer from the city's 40 breweries at the time. If you are craving something sweet after all the beer and sausages head to Lebkuchen-Schmidt, a sweet shop that has been baking delectable gingerbread for almost a century.