Unschlittplatz

A historic square with a strange name

The striking Unschlitthaus, which has characterised the square since the 15th century, gives the square its name. Originally built as a municipal granary, the building later served as an administrative centre for the Unschlitt trade - hence the name. Today, it is one of the best-preserved late Gothic buildings in Nuremberg. The sundial on the gable is particularly striking, ideal for anyone who wants to know what time it is when the sun is shining and if you can read Roman numerals. 😊

The Unschlitthaus has been remodelled several times and is now home to the municipal pawnshop, which moved in here back in 1899! It also houses the Office for Urban Research and Statistics and the municipal electoral office.

Unschlittplatz, surrounded by historic cobblestones and small old town houses, is a popular meeting place - quiet, charming and yet right in the centre of the action. Whether for a café in the sunshine, a short pause on the way through the city, a pub crawl in the evening or a curious look at the historic facades: Unschlittplatz invites you to experience history without seeming like a museum. For anyone who wants to explore Nuremberg away from the main tourist routes, Unschlittplatz is a little insider tip with a great history.

But it was precisely this impending loss that led to civic resistance - led by the Altstadtfreunde Nürnberg e.V. (Friends of the Old Town of Nuremberg). The roots of the association go back to 1950. At that time, the ‘Association of Friends of the Old Town’ was founded to restore the buildings in Nuremberg that had been severely damaged during the war and to declare war on the demolition mania of the post-war period. From 1976, the movement was officially called Altstadtfreunde Nürnberg e.V.

The rescue of the houses at Unschlittplatz 8 to 12 in 1978 was a great success. They are typical examples of Nuremberg's historic city centre buildings: narrow, multi-storey, with plenty of history within the walls. The city had already written off the ensemble and demolition was as good as decided. But the Friends of the Old Town refused to give up - with tenacity and a clear goal: preservation instead of sacrifice.