Barbers, Plague and Other Afflictions

"The times were very bad and dreadful," wrote a chronicler about life in Fürth in 1634. For centuries, the people of Fürth suffered from epidemics, famine, and the ravages of war. This walk through history examines these dark chapters.

At the former cemetery of St. Michael, you will learn about causes of death and funeral wreaths, about the "dreadful and hellish life in Fürth" (1561), and about diseases such as leprosy, plague, and hunger typhus. The treatments performed by barbers and the duties of night watchmen and sanitation workers will also be discussed.