The Albrecht Dürer House

One of Germany’s greatest artists made his home in the city of Nuremberg. What can we learn from his legacy?

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

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Visiting the Albrecht Dürer House

Albrecht Dürer is one of Germany's greatest artists, and a huge influence in the Northern Renaissance that swept through the region in the 15th century.

To find out more about the artist and the movement that he was a part of, it's well worth visiting the Albrecht Dürer House in Nuremberg.

When we think of the renaissance in art during the 15th and 16th centuries, we generally think of Italy and the famous Italian artists from that time. People like Raphael or Leonardo da Vinci.

We tend not to think of Germany so much.

But there was one artist in particular who was working during the Renaissance in Germany who should be credited with bringing the ideas and the age of discovery to northern Europe. His name was Albrecht Dürer and he was a son of Nuremberg.

Albrecht Durer House, Nuremberg, Germany

Dürer based himself in his hometown of Nuremberg for most of his life but he made a couple of important trips to Italy where he met some of the leading Italian artists of the time.

It was his association with them that allowed him to bring the cutting-edge artistic ideas back north. Much like a trading route for spices, he transported inspiration and it started to add a new flavour to everything he and his contemporaries were working on.

Who was Albrecht Dürer?

Albrecht Dürer was a German artist, considered one of the best ever but certainly of the Middle Ages. Working in the late 15th and early 16th centuries, he was a prolific artist, creating altarpieces, portraits, oil paintings, engravings, and woodcuts.

Why was Albrecht Dürer so important?

It was Albrecht Dürer’s trips to Italy that helped make him so important because he brought back the ideas of the Renaissance to his hometown of Nuremberg, Germany. His art from this point had a huge influence on the Northern Renaissance, a cultural movement that would spread across Europe.

Can you visit Albrecht Dürer’s house?

The home of Albrecht Dürer in the city of Nuremberg has been turned into a museum and you can now visit it. It paints a portrait of the artist’s home life as well as his creative and intellectual endeavours.

The work he would end up doing here in Nuremberg after time in Italy would be considered incredible in isolation.

But what makes it so important is the huge influence it would have on the cultural movement known as the Northern Renaissance. Dürer really was at the forefront of this new art style, which would spread across much of Europe towards the end of (and well after) his life.

The art of Albrecht Dürer

One of the interesting things about Albrecht Dürer is that he created artworks in so many different styles. But what’s common with all of them is their meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Although some of his oil paintings are among his most famous works, Dürer was also a pioneer in printmaking, so his woodcuts and engravings are particularly interesting and he’s well known for some of those.

While he covered a range of subjects, including landscapes and religious scenes, it’s his depictions of humans that he’s really known for.

Dürer had a profound understanding of human anatomy and proportion, and he spent much of his time in Italy studying the mathematics of how to depict the body.

Later in his career, Dürer had become so famous and well-regarded that even the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, was commissioning works from him. This, of course, made him quite wealthy.

Albrecht Durer House, Nuremberg, Germany

The house where Albrecht Dürer lived in the later years of his life shows a man who had profited handsomely from his work. It is five stories high, with the bottom two made of sandstone and the top three made of wood.

He bought it in 1509 when he was 38 years old, not long after he returned from his second trip to Italy. It was during the time he was living in this house that he produced some of his most celebrated works.

Rather than talk more about his art – although that would be an interesting discussion – I want to focus on the house, because it is one of the main tourist attractions in Nuremberg today.

Things to see at the Albrecht Dürer House

Dürer was living during the Middle Ages, a period of horses and castles and wenches and vomit in the gutters. But Nuremberg was a pretty wealthy city because of its position on the trading routes so to be a member of the elite during this time was quite meaningful.

Dürer’s house demonstrates this. Not only is it large, but it is located very close to Nuremberg’s Imperial Castle on the walls of the Old Town.

Albrecht Durer House, Nuremberg, Germany

It is now a museum and a tour through the interior gives you an insight into the man (and his art) and into life in Nuremberg during this Medieval times.

The small kitchen with its stone walls and internal fire shows you how it would have been to prepare meals, the living rooms with their ornate wooden furniture show the sophisticated side of his status.

Albrecht Durer House, Nuremberg, Germany

On the higher levels are the workshops where Dürer did his paintings and worked on his carved wooden blocks.

It’s here that the museum really comes into its own, with detailed information about how he and his students collected natural objects to make paints of different colours, and the techniques he used for the wood block art.

Albrecht Durer House, Nuremberg, Germany

For visitors, there is an audioguide which takes you through each room and gives you historical and technical information.

It is well put together and is narrated by Albrecht Dürer’s wife, Agnes, (Ok, fine, it’s an actor… but y’know) who speaks from the perspective of running the household.

Albrecht Durer House, Nuremberg, Germany

Those interested in art will enjoy the collection of Dürer works on display (even though they are copies) and the information about his styles. Those interested in history will appreciate the details about the house and what life was like in the Middle Ages.

And those interested in Nuremberg will get a look at one of its most important residents during an extremely influential part of its growth.

Visiting the Albrecht Dürer House

The Albrecht Dürer House is not particularly large and will probably take about 45 minutes to see properly.

As I mentioned, there’s an audioguide and it’s well worth listening to, giving lots of really interesting information about the house and the story of the artist.

Because the visit to the Albrecht Dürer House doesn’t take too long, I would recommend combining it with some of the nearby attractions like the Imperial Castle and St Sebald Church.

A few other things to note about visiting the Albrecht Dürer House:

  • As a preserved historic building, there is only very limited access for those with impaired mobility. Foldable seats that can also serve as mobility aids are available.
  • There are coin-operated lockers for large items.
  • There is no parking on site.
  • There is no food or drink available at the museum (but there are plenty of nearby options).
  • Guided tours can also be booked outside regular opening hours by request for an additional €100 fee.

Also, if you’ve been inspired by your time here, you can see some of the originals of Albrecht Dürer’s works at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg, which showcases a decent range of his styles.

(Because he was such a prolific artist, you’ll also find his pieces in art galleries all around the world – perhaps even in your hometown.)

Where is Albrecht Dürer House?

The Albrecht Dürer House can be found in the city centre of Nuremberg.
Its address is Albrecht-Dürer-Straße 39, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany. You can find it on a map here.

How do you get to Albrecht Dürer House?

The Albrecht Dürer House is walkable from many of the city’s other main sights but is also easy to access by public transport.
By tram, take line 4 to the Tiergärtnertor stop.
By bus, take line 36 to Burgstraße stop.
You can also take the U-Bahn’s U1 to Lorenzkirche station (use the Hauptmarkt exit).

When is Albrecht Dürer House open?

The Albrecht Dürer House is open at the following times:
Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 – 17:00
Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 – 18:00
July to September and Christmas Market in December: Monday from 10:00 – 17:00
The Albrecht Dürer House is closed on Mondays and has different opening hours on special holidays.

What is the Albrecht Dürer House entrance fee?

The entrance fee to the Albrecht Dürer House is €7.50 for a standard ticket and €2.50 for a concession.

Are there tours to Albrecht Dürer House?

Unfortunately, there are no tours that visit Albrecht Dürer House, but you may be interested in this general private city tour of Nuremberg.

For more information, see the official website of the Albrecht Dürer House.

There are lots of good places for food near the museum – in fact, I’ve got a whole story about the best restaurants in Nuremberg.

My top recommendation would be the local pork knuckle at the Albrecht Dürer Stube.

You can try the traditional sausages at the Bratwursthäusle next to St Sebald’s Church.

And wash it all down with a beer at the Hausbrauerei Altstadthof.

THE BEST ACCOMMODATION IN NUREMBERG

From the train station, head into the old town to find the most interesting accommodation – there are lots of options in historic buildings.

BACKPACKER

Set in an old building next to the castle, Jugendherberge Nürnberg makes you feel like you’re part of history!

BUDGET

Although it’s relatively simple, I think Hotel Fackelmann is the best value budget option in town.

BOUTIQUE

Right on the central square, you can’t get a better location than the modern Sorat Hotel Saxx.

LUXURY

And for modern four-star luxury, I would recommend the stylish Park Plaza, right near the train station.

Time Travel Turtle was supported by the German National Tourist Board but the opinions, over-written descriptions and bad jokes are his own.

3 thoughts on “The Albrecht Dürer House”

  1. I’ve visited and love the Durerhaus, but modern intrusions abound. Why furnish a room with period appropriate things, then put pedestals with explanation plaques around the room, plus one with a statue of Durer?

    Reply
  2. I am an Australian, Italian born illustrator, Claudia Tregoning nee Marconi. I was researching Albrecht Durer for a friend, and identified a print, in the process, taking me to your site, and hence the round journey of the artist. It reminds me of my own life, my father printing fabric, and myself, in South Australia, by chance, becoming one of the States top four retail fashion illustrators for the entire 1971 to 1979 period inclusive. My work published daily in The Advertiser Newspaper Ltd, broadsheet and The News Ltd, tabloid amongst others, for the masses via letterpress, occasionally offset. Pre the takeover of photography in advertising. My work, hand drawn daily, and like a surgeon, getting it right, only once. Published, as the face of and for the great Peoplestores Pty Ltd, retail department chain, and then as chief illustrator Myer SA Stores Pty Ltd., at the age of only 22. My work then continuing into mostly published publications, posters, wildlife, all topics and portraiture. And continuing. As this is a natural for me. Like Durer – an artist’s life is all passion driven. I call it music on paper, or canvas. Once started, it continues. And like playing a musical instrument, starts at childhood. Never knowing where it will lead.
    I will visit Durer’s house, if I visit in the future. Thankfully, the internet has taken me there today, Best Wishes.

    Reply
  3. I visited the Durer House several years ago. While I found it enjoyable and “humbling” in a sense to be in the very house where he had lived, I was struck by he thought that it didn’t LOOK like the house in which he had lived. Albrecht was an artist. His home would have been filled with paintings, carvings, flowers, color. The house rooms don’t convey this. Another disappointment was seeing explanation signs in “period rooms”, that made them non-period. Look at one of the photos that you used for your great article: a room ringed by white plastic stands with information cards on them. The joy of going into an old house-turned-museum is to experience what the original owner experienced, visually at least. The Durer House contains period “stuff”, but conveys no sense of the soul or humanity of the artist who lived and created there.

    Reply

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