Fischbach

Could a place named “Fischbach” be anything but charming? Here in Fischbach, Nuremberg, the name itself evokes images of a babbling brook teeming with fish. Fischbach, now a district of Nuremberg, boasts a rich history intertwined with the city. Originally an independent municipality, Fischbach officially became part of Nuremberg on July 1, 1972. Before that, Fischbach was a hub of activity, first mentioned in 1339 as “Fischpekken.” Established by imperial ministerials for honey hunting in the Lorenzer Reichswald, Fischbach’s early inhabitants, the “Vischebekken von Vischebach,” found themselves in debt around 1350 and sold their holdings to the imperial city. Fischbach wasn’t immune to conflict. The village was ravaged by fire during the feud with Margrave Albrecht Achilles of Brandenburg-Ansbach in 1449 and again during the Second Margrave War. Even the grand mansions, the Harsdorfsche Schloss and Pellerschloss, were not spared. The Thirty Years’ War brought further hardship, with arson and looting a common occurrence. Fischbach, however, persevered, attracting Austrian exiles seeking refuge after the war. Fischbach is also home to several impressive mansions. The Harsdorfsche Schloss, still owned by the descendants of a Nuremberg patrician family, stands as a testament to the area’s aristocratic past. The Scheurlsche Schloss, with its 1729 sandstone gatehouse, once belonged to the family of Anton Koberger, publisher of the Nuremberg Chronicle. The Pellerschloss, a well-preserved 16th-century mansion, is now owned by the city and hosts weddings and events. Fischbach also has a more recent, darker history. During World War II, a Gestapo labor education camp operated here from October 1942 to August 1943. The conditions were horrific, comparable to an SS concentration camp. The camp became a target for British bombers in August 1943, leading to its relocation. Following the war, Fischbach played a unique role in Nuremberg’s recovery. The Moll Railway, a narrow-gauge railroad, transported rubble from the devastated city center to a designated area near Fischbach. This railway, with its depot of steam locomotives, operated until 1950. So, as you stand here in Fischbach, remember its journey. From a honey-hunting outpost to a district of Nuremberg, Fischbach’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and a quiet charm that whispers through the trees of the Lorenzer Reichswald.