Craftmen's Courtyard, Craft courtyard in Nuremberg, Germany
The Craftsmen's Courtyard (Handwerkerhof Nürnberg) is a craft village built in 1971 inside the former Waffenhof of the Frauentor, between the Königstor and the Frauentor at Nuremberg's old-town entrance. Narrow lanes hold small houses with imitation half-timbered facades, workshops and taverns, opposite the main railway station.
The courtyard opened on 1 April 1971, the Dürer year marking the 500th anniversary of Albrecht Dürer's birth. It was built for 800,000 DM on the Waffenhof, the former arsenal yard of the Frauentor, by the trade-fair company AFAG under its founder Helmuth Könicke. The design of the taverns, workshops and shops was agreed with the heritage protection authority. Because visitor numbers exceeded expectations, the buildings were not demolished in 1972 as planned and the courtyard has remained a tourist attraction.
Craftspeople demonstrate their skills daily through gingerbread making, pottery, glassblowing, and metalwork. Visitors can watch these traditional techniques being practiced in real time.
The courtyard lies at the Königstor, the old town entrance on the walking route from Nuremberg's main station to the traditional sights. It is entered through the Frauentor, the former main gate on the south-east side of the city walls, opposite the station. Narrow alleys, small shops and workshops fill the walled yard.
The courtyard was meant to be demolished after 1972, but visitor numbers were so high that the city kept it. It was opened on 1 April 1971 for the 500th birthday of Albrecht Dürer and cost 800,000 DM. The fair company AFAG, led by Helmuth Könicke, built the small houses with imitation half-timbered facades inside the old Waffenhof.
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