Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [291]
RIESKRATER MUSEUM
Situated in an ancient barn, the Rieskrater Museum ( 273 8220; Eugene-Shoemaker-Platz 1; adult/child €4/1.50; 10am-4.30pm Tue-Sun) explores the formation of meteorite craters and the consequences of such violent collisions with Earth. Rocks, including a genuine moon rock (on permanent loan from NASA), fossils and other geological displays shed light on the mystery of meteors.
BAYERISCHES EISENBAHNMUSEUM
One of Germany’s largest collections of classic steam trains can be found at the Bayerisches Eisenbahnmuseum (Bavarian Railway Museum; 09083-340; www.bayerisches-eisenbahnmuseum.de; Am Hohen Weg 6a; adult/child €5/2.50; noon-4pm Tue-Sat, 10am-5pm Sun May-Sep, Sat & Sun only Mar, Apr & Oct). Its 100 nostalgic vehicles range from sleek high-speed engines for transporting passengers to cute little railyard shunters. An old-time loco puffs its way to Dinkelsbühl (adult/child €18/12, two hours return) a few weekends in summer. To reach the museum, cross the footbridge at the southern end of the train station.
OTHER MUSEUMS
The Stadtmuseum ( 273 8230; Vordere Gerbergasse 1; adult/concession €4/1.50; 1.30am-4.30pm Tue-Sun Mar-early Nov) features costumes and displays on local history. More enlightening is the exhibit on the history of the old town walls and fortifications at the Stadtmauermuseum ( 9180; Löpsinger Torturm; adult/child €1.50/1; 10am-4.30pm Apr-Oct).
Return to beginning of chapter
Festivals & Events
The largest annual celebration is the 14-day Nördlinger Pfingstmesse at Whitsuntide/Pentecost. It’s an exhibition of regional traders, with a huge market featuring beer tents, food stalls and entertainment.
Return to beginning of chapter
Sleeping & Eating
Hotel Altreuter ( 4319; www.hotel-altreuter.de; Marktplatz 11; s €35-45, d €48-64; ) Perched above a busy cafe and bakery, rooms here are of the could-be-anywhere type, but the location next to the Daniel Tower cannot be beaten. Bathrooms are private and the tasty breakfast is served down in the cafe.
Jugend & Familengästehaus ( 275 0575; www.jufa.at/noerdlingen; Bleichgraben 3a; s/d €48/67; ) Located just outside the town walls, this shiny, 185-bed hostel-hotel is spacious and clean-cut. There are two- to four-bed rooms, ideal for couples or families, and facilities include bicycle hire, a cafe with internet terminals and even a small cinema. Unless you are travelling with an entire handball team in tow, dorms are off limits to travellers, however hard you plead.
Kaiserhof Hotel Sonne ( 5067; Marktplatz 3; s €55-65, d €75-120; ) Nördlingen’s top sleep has hosted a procession of emperors and their entourages since 1405. Rooms tastefully blend traditional charm with 21st-century comforts, and there’s an atmospheric regional restaurant and cellar wine bar.
Café Radlos ( 5040; Löpsinger Strasse 8; mains €6-13; closed Tue) Nördlingen’s hippest and most entertaining cafe serves international cuisine and some creative vegie options. Slinky jazz sets a mellow tone for surfing the net (€2 per 30 minutes) or just enjoying a drink in the beer garden.
Sixenbräu Stüble ( 3101; Bergerstrasse 17; mains €10-17; closed Mon) An attractive gabled town house near the Berger Tor houses this local institution, which has been plonking wet ones on the bar since 1545. The pan-Bavarian menu has heavy carnivorous leanings, and there’s a beer garden for alfresco elbow bending.
Return to beginning of chapter
Getting There & Away
Train journeys to and from Munich (€25, two hours) and Augsburg (€13.30, one hour) require a change in Donauwörth. The Europabus stops at the Rathaus. Regional VGN bus 501 goes to Dinkelsbühl (€6.30, 45 minutes).
Return to beginning of chapter
AUGSBURG
0821 / pop 269,000
Bavaria’s third-largest city