Nördlingen, Medieval walled city in Donau-Ries, Germany
Nördlingen is a walled town in the Donau-Ries district of Bavaria. Inside the fortifications, narrow lanes lined with half-timbered houses spread outward from a central square, and five gate towers provide entry into the old quarter.
The settlement was first recorded in 898 and gained Imperial City status in 1215. During the Middle Ages, it grew into an important trading post at the intersection of several long-distance routes.
The town wall invites visitors to walk a complete circuit, passing through covered walkways and climbing various towers for views over the old town. On market days, locals gather in the central square where vendors sell regional products against a backdrop of historic facades.
A walk along the town wall offers orientation and takes about half an hour for the complete circuit. The old town is easy to explore on foot, as most sights lie within a few minutes of each other.
The entire old town sits inside a meteorite crater formed 15 million years ago, whose impact created microscopic diamonds in the rock. These tiny crystals remain present today in many walls and towers of the fortifications.
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