Of all edifices, more especially deserving of being visited at Nuremberg, the Citadel is doubtless the most curious and ancient, as well as the most remarkable.  It rises to a considerable height, close upon the outer walls of the town, within about a stone’s throw of the end of Albrecht Duerer Strasse—­or the street where Albert Duerer lived—­and whose house is not only yet in existence, but still the object of attraction and veneration with every visitor of taste, from whatever part of the world he may chance to come.  The street running down is the street called (as before observed) after Albert Duerer’s own name; and the well, seen about the middle of it, is a specimen of those wells—­built of stone—­which are very common in the streets of Nuremberg.  The upper part of the house of Albert Duerer is supposed to have been his study.  The interior is so altered from its original disposition as to present little or nothing satisfactory to the antiquary.  It would be difficult to say how many coats of whitewash have been bestowed upon the rooms, since the time when they were tenanted by the great character in question.

Passing through this street, therefore, you may turn to the right, and continue onward up a pretty smart ascent; when the entrance to the Citadel, by the side of a low wall—­in front of an old tower—­presents itself to your attention.  It was before breakfast that my companion and self visited this interesting interior, over every part of which we were conducted by a most loquacious cicerone, who spoke the French language very fluently, and who was pleased to express his extreme gratification upon finding that his visitors were Englishmen.  The tower and the adjoining chapel, may be each of the thirteenth century; but the tombstone of the founder of the monastery, upon the site of which the present Citadel was built, bears the date of 1296.  This tombstone is very perfect; lying in a loose, unconnected manner, as you enter the chapel; the chapel itself having a crypt-like appearance.  This latter is very small.

From the suite of apartments in the older parts of the Citadel, there is a most extensive and uninterrupted view of the surrounding country, which is rather flat.  At the distance of about nine miles, the town of Fuerth (Furta) looks as if it were within an hour’s walk; and I should think that the height of the chambers (from which we enjoyed this view) to the level ground of the adjacent meadows could be scarcely less than three hundred feet.  In these chambers there is a little world of curiosity for the antiquary; and yet it was but too palpable that very many of its more precious treasures had been transported to Munich.  In the time of Maximilian II., when Nuremberg may be supposed to have been in the very height of its glory, this Citadel must have been worth a pilgrimage of many score miles to have visited.  The ornaments which remain are chiefly pictures; of which several are exceedingly precious....