European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 6, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Medieval sights and sounds flourish behind Nurnberg s Walls by Effie Bathen Niernberg Bureau the smell of grilling sausages fills the streets of Niernberg just As it has since the Middle Ages. Back then according to City lore innkeepers fed hungry travellers passing the German town after its Gates were closed for the night by sliding the spicy sausages through the Gates old Iron keyholes. The sausages Are not much fatter than a person s Little Finger a and have been made that Way since ancient times. They Are served in Bunches three to a crispy Roll or a dozen or so piled High with sauerkraut on a heart shaped Pewter plate. It is nearly impossible to eat just one. While the City Gates of Bavaria s second largest City Are gone the sausages Are not. These tasty specialities of the old walled town just like the City s structures Are something that visitors should not miss. Niernberg grew up around a Castle that was started by germanic emperors and fortified by the powerful hohenstaufen and Hohenzollern families which lorded Over the town before it was Given the right to have a free Council in the second half of the 13th Century. By the 14th Century Niernberg was one of the most important trading cities of Europe. It was on the great Overland trading routes to Strasbourg Prague Vienna Antwerp Saxony and Poland. Nurnberger Lind Geht Durch Alle land or Quot Niernberg goes through every land Quot reads the inscription under a mural near the Market Square. It shows ancient merchants and traders wearing brightly coloured garb and feathered Caps walking alongside a train of horse drawn carts packed continued on Page 12 a amps photos by Effie Bathen at left the mechanical men below the clock in the Church of our lady come out for their daily performance. Below the Square near the Albrecht Durer House is one of the most charming parts of old Niernberg. February 6, 1992 stripes Magazine 7 7