Fürth
Fürth (also Fuerth) is a city in Bavaria, Germany in the region of Franconia. It is right next to Nuremberg, so close that they are basically attached to each other. Unlike Nuremberg, the buildings in Fürth were left untouched by the war.
Understand
During the Middle Ages Fuerth was jointly governed by the city of Nuremberg, the bishop of Bamberg and the count of Ansbach. Therefore Fuerth's coat of arms shows a cloverleaf. Fuerth is also older than Nuremberg, dating back to November 1007. See "1000 Jahre Fürth" at http://www.1000-jahre-fuerth.de (German only). Fuerth had a large Jewish population (Levi's founder Levi Strauss for example, also Henry Kissinger, who was born in Fuerth and fled to the USA when the Nazis came to power).
As is often the case with cities that close to each other Nuremberg and Fürth enjoy a fierce rivalry that is even more pronounced in soccer, with both teams being dominant in Germany for most of the 1920s. While there is not much love lost between the two cities today, attitudes (outside of soccer games) are more relaxed now than they seem at first glance and the rivalry is mostly folklore.
Get in
By car
On the A73 jsut north of Nuremberg
By train
The railway between Nuremberg and Fürth was the first in what would later become Germany. There are direct rail connections to Erlangen and Nuremberg, but for most places farther away it makes more sense to change in either Nuremberg or Erlangen and take the S-Bahn or another regional train from there.
By subway
From Nuremberg, take subway line U1. Alight at Fürth Hauptbahnhof (Main Station) or Fürth Rathaus.
By plane
The closest airport is Nuremberg (NUE IATA). From there take the subway (U2) to the main station and then either another subway (U1) or a regional train. There is no regular train service (yet) connecting the airport to the train station, but at 12 minutes (NUE to Nuremberg main station) by subway there is hardly any need for such a connection.
From Frankfurt airport (FRA IATA) take the train to Nuremberg and from there on to Fürth. From Munich airport (MUC IATA) you can take a regional train with the Bayern ticket (23€ per person + 4€ per each additional member of your group) that is valid on all regional trains (no ICE or Intercity, but all RE and RB as well as all S-Bahn trains) and also on the Nuremberg-Fürth subway and all VGN buses.
By bus
Although some domestic bus lines do stop in Fürth, it might be more practicable to alight in Nuremberg and take the subway to town, as the Nuremberg ZOB (right next to the main station, about 400 meter on foot to the subway) has more connections than Fürth does.
Get around
You can travel to just about anywhere in Fürth by foot or via bus. If a bus is not available, you can always take a taxi or ride a bike. Local public transportation is provided by INFRA Fürth in conjunction with VAG, see: here . You can buy tickets at electronic ticket machines located at many bus stops, all subway stations, all train stations, and from bus drivers. Tickets can be purchased with cash, and the ticketing machines do not accept bills larger than 20€ unless your purchase exceeds 30€. Ticket prices are listed on each ticketing machine and at each bus stop. Depending on your destination, you will need to buy a different ticket that will get you there. A one way ticket within Fürth cost 1,40€. If you plan on taking more than 2 one-way rides, it will make sense to buy a Day Ticket Solo for 3,60€ or a Day Ticket Plus for 6,30€. The Day Ticket Plus allows up to 2 adults and up to 4 children under the age of 18 to ride within 2 specified zones as much as they want. This is a good ticket to take when traveling from Fürth to Nuremberg because Nuremberg downtown is in Zone 2. There are also discounts for students, children between the ages of 6-14, and senior citizens. Children 5 and under ride free. All information on ticket prices within Fürth, Nuremberg, and Stein can be found here.
Buses and subways in Fürth are all handicap-accessible.
See
- Historic city streets (Subway stop Fürth Rathaus). North of the town hall.
- 1 Fürther Freiheit, Rudolf-Breitscheid-Straße,. The location of the first train to ever run in Germany. Now the Open-air markets is there.
- 2 Jewish Museum Franken, Königstraße 89, ☏ +49 911 9774853.
- 3 Rundfunk Museum, Kurgartenstraße 37, ☏ +49 911 7568110. The Radio Museum of the City of Fürth
- 4 Rathaus (City hall), Königstraße 86 (metro: U1 to Fürth Rathaus). Constructed between 1840 and 1850, the building was strongly inspired by the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.
Do
- Take a walk in the beautiful Stadt Park (city park). If you walk along the Pegnitz river (which is located adjacent to the park) you will arrive in downtown Nuremberg in about 2 hours, just follow the signs labeled "Nürnberg Altstadt".
- Take a walk around the old city (you may for example start on Königswarter Straße and then head West towards the city hall and then over Gustavstraße, side streets and St. Michael's church.
- Watch a soccer game. The local team is called Greuther Fürth
- Visit Toni Bechtold's house for some smooth jazz. Alexanderstraße 30 90762.
- 1 Kofferfabrik, Lange Str. 81, 90762 Fürth (metro: U1 to Stadtgrenze, then walk on Nürnberger Straße towards Fürth (the Aral gas station is in the right direction, head right into Lobitzstraße, Kofferfabrik is straigt ahead), ☏ +49-911-706806. Kofferfabrik is a great place with a lot of non-mainstream culture happenings (concerts, theatre, ...), see website for details.
Events
- International Kletzmer Festival: 4–13 March 2016. (date needs updating)
- Michaelis-Kirchweih (The St. Michael’s Festival): 3–14 october 2015. unlike most church festivals which were appointed as official festival sites from the city authorities, has earned its reputation and popularity through the years. As the second oldest but yet mother of the Kirchweih-Church Festivals it was named after the valiant archangel. It is estimated that this simple, rather modest church reflecting the image of "The old Temple on the Hill" was founded in the year 1100. As early as 601 Pope Gregor declared that the Kircheneinweihung-inauguration of the church should be opened with a cultural feast. And not only recognized as a religious ceremony, historians believe that the foundation of the building occurred approximately 900 years ago, just as the first festival had. The residents of the city of Fürth were very proud and initiated this festival as the Michael und aller Engel Tag to be celebrated on the 29 of September or the Sunday thereafter. The popularity grew as did the area in which it is celebrated, the church of St. Michael, Gustavstraße/street and in the city of Fürth. In 2010 it is estimated to have had over 1.6 million visitors. (date needs updating)
Buy
Fürth has much to offer when it comes to shopping. There are department stores and small shops scattered around downtown, but since downtown in so small, they are all a short walk away from one another. There is also an air-conditioned shopping mall, which is uncommon throughout Europe, called City Center Fürth. It is located on the Fußgängerzone (pedestrian zone). On the Fußgängerzone you will also find many local shops ranging from antiques to groceries. Many locals buy their fruits, vegetables, and different types of cheese at the local Open-air market located on the Fürther Freiheit (just a short walk from the main train station and the Fußgängerzone).
Souvenirs and postcards are not so easy to come by in Fürth. But, you will find a small selection in the local Tourism Office (across the street from the Main train station). Otherwise, you will just have to look around in all the little shops for anything you might like.
Eat
Budget
- Döner shops scattered throughout the city
- Bratwuerst stands, there is one located on Fuerther Freiheit and another on the Fußgängerzone (pedestrian zone). Ask for a Fränkische Bratwuerst, and you will receive a Bratwurst in a bread roll. Some places will offer Sauerkraut or grilled onions to top off your meal.
- Local butcher shops and bakeries offer pre-made sandwiches and sometimes hard-boiled eggs, as well as other products. Some of them will even prepare your sandwich the way you want it. For a Bavarian specialty, try a Leberkäs Semmel which is similar to a slice of meat loaf made from the same products and having the same consistency of a hot dog.
Mid-range
- 1 Zum Tannenbaum, Helmstraße 10, ☏ +49 911 7660485. offers wonderful traditional German and Franconian dishes - a short walk from the subway stop Fuerth Rathaus
- 2 Asia Küche, Maxstraße 30 (Located across the street from the end of the Fußgängerzone towards the Main train station.), ☏ +49 911 7419689. good Chinese food for a decent price, they even offer a lunch special. When you eat here you either eat standing up or take-out and eat at home. They also offer a delivery service.
- 3 Cafe am Park, Moststraße 27, ☏ +49 911 778596. nice little family business where you get excellent coffee, nice bakery and a daily offered warm dish. Has some tables in the small park in front of it.
- 4 Stubenhocker, Marktplatz 7, 90762 Fürth (at the western end of Gustavstraße). Burger place
- 5 Tante Förster, Königstraße 37, 90762 Fürth. a nice looking new addition to the scene
Splurge
- 6 Poseidon, Bäumenstraße 30 (located in Fuerth City Center), ☏ +49 911 771696. an excellent local Greek restaurant
- 7 Our Place, Beim Liershof 3, ☏ +49 911 7809881. A local American restaurant where you get so much food that you need to share! They are hidden behind the subway stop Fuerth Rathaus
Cafés
- Quite some nice cafés line Gustavstraße and suroundings, some of which are:
- 8 Kaffee Bohne, Gustavstraße 40, 90762 Fürth, ☏ +49 911 774604. Mon-Sun 8:30 till 01:00 (Fri, Sat until 2am depending on number of guests), terrace until 23:00 latest. a nice café in the very center
Breakfast and brunch
- Stubenhocker (weekends & public holidays) - see midrange above
- Kofferfabrik (possibly weekends only)
Drink
- Most bars are locate on or around Gustavstraße.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
- 1 NH Hotels, Königstraße 140, ☏ +49 911 74040.
- Hotel Prima Vera. Parco in Waldstraße 44 and Centro in Mathildenstraße 26
Splurge
- 2 Hotel-Pyramide (German only), Europaallee 1, ☏ +49 911 97100. About a 15 minute drive or bus ride from downtown Fuerth
Go next
- Bamberg
- Nuremberg - Fürth's largest neighboring city
- Erlangen - University town
- Munich - Capital of Bavaria
- Franconian Switzerland
- Franconian lake district