Nuremberg: history, culture, and modern city overview

The name of the town is derived from nor for "stony rock" and referred to the Keuper rock visible from far away with the castle. It and the settlement that developed at its feet were probably named after the Felsberg. There is also the theory that the name of the town derives from the personal name Noro. Other interpretations like "Nero-berg", "Nur-ein-Berg" or "Neuberg" proved to be wrong.

The epithet Noris already appeared in humanism. Helius Eobanus Hessus first referred to Nuremberg as "noris amoena" (lovely Noris). Hessus based this on the Latin spelling of the city's name in documents as "Noricum", "Noribergae" or "Norimberg". In 1650, the physician Johann Helwig personified this epithet in a poem as the mythical nymph Noris, which has since been frequently used as an educational allegory of the city.

Both city coats of arms are subject to approval.

The city has used a signet in addition to the traditional coat of arms since the 1970s. The original signet, also called logo, showed a stylized N, reminiscent of the side of the Small City Coat of Arms divided by red and silver. In 1993, a city logo was then developed that took up the elongated silhouette of Nuremberg Castle and established itself as the city's distinctive sign. However, it was not possible to develop a uniform corporate design from this. In addition, the old logo proved to be inflexible due to its horizontal shape. In 2009, therefore, efforts were made in the city hall to develop a more manageable logo and a more uniform appearance. Since July 2011, the new city logo and corporate design has been gradually introduced. In addition to the city logo, the logo of the metropolitan region of the same name is also frequently used by the city. This is intended to increase public awareness of the connection between the city region and the metropolitan area with the neighbouring districts.

Geographical position

Nuremberg lies on both sides of the Pegnitz, which rises about 80 kilometres northeast of the city and crosses the city area from east to west over a length of about 14 kilometres. In the area of the old town, the river has been heavily canalized. In the western district of Doos, the Pegnitz leaves the city at Nuremberg's lowest point at an altitude of 288 m above sea level and joins the Rednitz in Fürth, where it forms the Regnitz together. Especially in the north and northwest of Nuremberg, the landscape is strongly influenced by the alluvial deposits of the Pegnitz. In the north of Nuremberg is the Knoblauchsland, an important vegetable-growing area. The Nuremberg Reichswald forest extends to the south, east and north of the city.

The subsoil of Nuremberg consists of soft sandstone, which was formed in the Keuper period. North-east of Nuremberg is Franconian Switzerland, a low mountain range with an altitude of over 600 metres above sea level in places.

Extension of the urban area

The area of the city covers an area of 186.38 km². In the west, the development has grown together with the neighbouring city of Fürth and in the southwest with Stein. To the north of the city lies the relatively flat fertile Knoblauchsland, which also forms the western approach corridor for Nuremberg Airport, and to the northeast the Sebalder Reichswald forest.

The northern boundary of the Old Town is formed by the Burgberg with Nuremberg Castle and the city wall, large parts of which have been preserved; a little to the east, also on the north side of the Pegnitz, rises the park-like Rechenberg.

City breakdown

In 1968, the city area was divided into 87 Statistical Districts and into blocks for planning purposes in the sense of a small-scale division. These Statistical Districts are grouped into 10 Statistical City Districts. However, this administrative division hardly plays a role in the consciousness of the population, rather in everyday life one orients oneself by the traditional names of the places.

Incorporations

By 1825, the city area covered 160.84 ha. Since then, after the population of the city had increased more and more as a result of the Industrial Revolution and the city had expanded more and more, several formerly independent municipalities were incorporated into the city area, so that today the city has an area of about 186.4 km².

Neighboring communities

The city of Nuremberg borders on the following cities, municipalities and municipality-free areas (starting in the north, following clockwise):

Erlangen (independent city), Neunhofer Forst, Kraftshofer Forst and Erlenstegener Forst (Erlangen-Höchstadt district), Schwaig bei Nürnberg, Laufamholzer Forst, Zerzabelshofer Forst, Forsthof, municipality-free area Fischbach, Feuchter Forst and Feucht (all administrative district of Nürnberger Land), Wendelstein and Forst Kleinschwarzenlohe (administrative district ofRoth), Schwabach (independent city), Rohr (administrative district of Roth), Stein and Oberasbach (administrative district of Fürth) and Fürth (independent city).

The exclave of Brunn, which has the highest point of Nuremberg at 406 m above sea level, is bordered by the municipalities of Brunn, Winkelhaid and Fischbach (all in the district of Nürnberger Land).