Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds
The Basics
Consisting of a sprawling parade grounds flanked by a mammoth modernist stadium and an austere grandstand (known as the Zeppelinfeld), the Nazi Party Rally Grounds were built in 1933 to host some of Hitler’s notoriously frenzied propaganda rallies. Today the massive concrete structures are crumbling but remain a sobering reminder of the Nazi party's crimes. The site is open to the public, and the grassy parade grounds are often used by local cyclists and joggers.
A short walk away, the lakeside Documentation Center offers a deeper exploration into the ascension of the Third Reich and its atrocities. A permanent exhibit called “Fascination and Terror” explores the factors that led to Hitler's rise to power and the catastrophic results.
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Things to Know Before You Go
Many areas of the Zeppelinfeld and the grandstand are in disrepair and may be unsafe to enter; mind any warning signs and safety fences.
The Documentation Center charges a modest admission fee. Audio guides and hour-long guided tours of the “Fascination and Terror” exhibit are available; both require additional fees.
Due to disturbing content, the museum exhibits are not suitable for children under the age of 14.
The Documentation Center is fully wheelchair accessible; the accessible entrance is located on the ground level under a set of stairs.
How to Get There
The Nazi Party Rally Grounds is located southeast of Nuremberg’s city center at Dutzendteich Park. Parking is available at Congress Hall. To reach the site via public transit, take tram Line 9 or bus lines 36, 55, 65 to Doku-Zentrum, or the S2 train to Nürnberg-Dutzendteich.
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When to Get There
The rally grounds are open to the public 24 hours a day. The Documentation Center is open every day of the year, from morning until early evening, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The center opens slightly later on weekends on most holidays. Advance reservations are recommended in July, when the Documentation Center gets especially. Construction to expand the museum is planned beginning in 2021; check the website for updates and temporary closures.
Nuremberg’s World War II History
Once a sleepy medieval settlement in Germany’s Bavaria region, Nuremberg is now inextricably linked to its role in World War II: The rallies the Nazi held here, at the Zeppelinfeld, helped catapult Hitler to power in the years before the war. After the war, the city found itself in the global spotlight again during the Nuremberg Trials, which were held from 1945 to 1946 to prosecute high-level Nazi political and military leaders for war crimes.
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