Frommer's Review
In the north wing of the unfinished Kongresshalle, the memories of the Nazi Party Congress rallies of 1934 and 1935 live on. Since the end of World War II, the city of Nürnberg has been virtually synonymous with the most famous set of war trials during the 20th century: the Nürnberg Trials. Beginning on November 20, 1945, 21 leading Nazi war criminals were tried in Courtroom 600 before the Allied International Military Tribunal for conspiracy and crimes against world peace, the rules of warfare, and humanity. The trials became a milestone in judicial history as a birthplace for a new law of nations: For the first time in history, sentences were pronounced according to the principle of the personal responsibility of the individual. Extraordinary, too, is that the site of these renowned war trials is also the former site of the Nazi Party rally grounds. Faced with the historical legacy of National Socialism, the trials were deliberately set in Nürnberg in order to make a statement.
You can visit the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds to gain a greater understanding of the events in Nürnberg that shaped world history. Regular 1-hour guided tours to Courtroom 600 are conducted year-round, but only on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4pm, and only in rapid-fire German, for a price of 2.50€ ($3.25) per person, with advance reservations. Included are permanent and changing exhibitions, plus visits to the rally grounds. In addition, the Documentation Center considers academic and pedagogical tasks to be an integral part of its education work. One example of this is the International Study Forum, presenting film programs as well as talks and discussions with groups to assess their opinions before and after their visits to the exhibition. Political and peace education are central to the Documentation Center's vision, as is the study of human rights.
The Kongresshalle opens onto Lake Grosser Dutzendteich. Across the lake stands Zeppelinwiese, a field that's the site of the Tribüne, that mass mammoth marble platform from which Hitler ranted at more than 100,000 spectators enthralled by his violent denunciations.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
