My husband and I wish to hire someone that can drive us around the countryside outside of Nuremberg. This person would need to know the history of the surrounding area. We are not interested in Nuremberg itself, as we already have tours scheduled for that city. We want to get out of the city and explore the countryside with a docent, or someone that can give us in-depth knowledge of the history of the area. I contacted the person in Rick Steve's book, but they cannot help me. Does anyone know of a person I could contact who could give a private tour of this kind to us for a few hours in late August? I have hired docents in the past in other countries and have not had difficulty finding someone. But I can't seem to find anyone that can meet our requirements for this trip. Any ideas or suggestions? Thank you to all! Sheila
Posted by
Salt Lake City
1481 posts
I would start with the Nürnberg Tourist Office. They would be likely to know if someone specializes in the general area.
You could also read a bit and select a few nearby towns to visit by train and use their tourist offices.
I think I can picture what you want. I lived in nearby Roßtal in the 1980's and learned that it was named for the local duke's stables (Roßtal = horse valley) that were located there. The crypt under the St. Laurentius was almost a thousand years old and recently rediscovered. I also learned that migrants from Roßtal settled in Frankenmuth, Michigan, close to where I was raised. The area history was interesting but difficult to put into focus. Good luck and I hope that you succeed. There must be a local historian that would enjoy educating an interested party.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
I can't help with the recommendations for a guide, but for a very interesting region on which to focus, consider Franconian Switzerland, so-named because the hills and rock formations reminded someone of Switzerland (if you ask me, it looks nothing like Switzerland...). But it does have many attractive old towns and more than enough castles to explore.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
8942 posts
Even if the guide you contacted can not help you, they should be able to send you names and emails of other guides who possibly can. Email them again and ask.
Posted by
Green Bay
20085 posts
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you for all the replies. I talked to the hotel and the local TI office, but they couldn't help me.
Sam - I have emailed Eric and am crossing my fingers that he will reply. He sounds exactly like what we want. Thank you!!
Sheila
Posted by
Augsburg, Bavaria
2333 posts
You could write to the Institut für Fränkische Landesgeschichte of the University of Erlangen (marina.heller@fau.de) and inquire if the know of somebody who could help you. They always have some knowledeable PhD candidates and they have contact with former students who act as scientific guides occasionally. It would be helpful, however, if you can specify the domains of your interest and the exact acrea. Franconia, say, in or after the Thirty Years' War and its repopulation by austrian refugees is another field of historical research than its annexation by Bavaria in 1806 or the history of local emigration to the US in the 19th century. And the history of the (not so small) territory of the imperial city of Nürnberg is quite different from that of the surroundig markgravate of Ansbach-Bayreuth.