Nördlingen — Town Built Inside a Meteorite Crater

Nördlingen is a town with more than 20,000 inhabitants in the Danube-Ries district, in Bavaria, Germany. Nördlingen is located along the Romantic Road, in the middle of a meteorite crater, which fell 15 million years ago. Whose extension of almost 25 km in diameter today determines the Ries region of Nördlingen, and at a height of 429 m above sea level. The scene of two battles of 1634 and 1645 that occurred during the Thirty Years' War of the ancient Imperial City of Nördlingen.

Nordlingen Germany

Nordlingen Crater City

The history of the city easily explains how its late medieval appearance has been preserved in its entirety. Nördlingen was an Independent Imperial City, from 1215 onwards, and thanks to its location at the crossroads of two great trade roads, the skills of its merchants, and in particular its craftsmen, it reached a great level of prosperity. Its period of abundance lasted until 1630, the date that marks the beginning of the decline of the city in the course of the following years, reaching its abrupt end in the Thirty Years War., during which two important battles took place in its creditors. Nördlingen lost not only half its population but also its political and economic importance. Its development stalled for centuries, and it was only possible to preserve the inherited architectural substance. It wasn't until after WWII, the time during which the bombardment fortunately continued long, that a new phase in its development began. In the following decades, the city council succeeded in an exemplary way in turning Nördlingen into one of the most important industrial cities in the north of the Swabian administrative region of Bavaria without having to break with the old-town atmosphere. . Thus, the city center remains, as in years past, the focal point of city life, and a correct amalgamation of the Medieval and Modern Era.

The city was built in the Medieval Era and is completely enclosed by a wall. Two other cities in Germany also have a surrounding city wall, Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Dinkelsbühl; however, only the one in Nördlingen can be covered in its entirety, a characteristic that makes it unique in Germany. It has five entrance gates, 11 well-preserved defensive towers, and an Alte Bastei "Old Bastille". Although the city gates are points of attraction for visitors from all over the world, the greatest admiration is found in their entirety, in the houses within the city, preserved from the period of its great prosperity from the 14th to the 16th centuries; as well as the magnificent facades of the public buildings and the houses of the privileged social class made half of the wood and with Renaissance and Baroque style. A fantastic view of the entire city by climbing the 90 meters to the summit of "Daniel", tower of the Church of St. George, in the Gothic style, and the hallmark of Nördlingen. It is here that the two municipal tower guardians work on top of the tower, both of whom are the last of their kind in Germany. The cry of the guardians is also unique: “So, G'sell, so”, which means “all good, comrades, all good”. They are echoes that are heard throughout the city every half hour from 10 pm. until midnight, and which in ancient times were intended to calm the nights of the inhabitants, against any attack.

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Crater city

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Nordlingen crater

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Nordlingen Crater Town

The city has several museums, including the Bavarian Railway Museum with its hundreds of vehicles, the Historical Museum "Stadtmuseum", the Wall Museum "Stadtmauermuseum", the Crater Museum " Rieskratermuseu m", and the Museum Augenblick (" museum of the moment ") that houses a collection of media from the 19th century. As anecdotal data, the medieval city of Nördlingen appears in the anime Princess Tutu and Shingeki no Kyojin, as well as in the movie Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory.

There are many festivals that take place in the old town of Nördlingen, including the "Wall Festival" ( Stadtmauerfest ) which consists of a medieval market and show. Every year in May the " Stabenfest " takes place, a great school party that has its origins in 1406, being the most traditional children's party in Germany. The "Pentecost Fair" ( Pfingstmesse ) was in the Medieval Era one of the most important trade fairs in Europe. Today it is a popular holiday. The Scharlachrennen in Nördlingen is a famous horse race.