Kaiserburg Castle. Nuremberg Fortress

28.07.2023

Nuremberg Castle - Burg - (Nürnberger Burg) is a symbol of Nuremberg, its business card. It is formed by three different buildings, the boundaries between which have long been erased: the fortress of the burgrave - Burggrafenburg, the imperial castle - Kaiserburg and the fortress of the city of Nuremberg (Reichsstädtische Burg). Built in the 11th century, the burgrave's castle became the foundation of the city. But his influence gradually weakened, and in 1420 the burgrave […]

is a symbol Nuremberg, his calling card. It is formed by three different structures, the boundaries between which have long been erased: the burgrave's fortress - Burggrafenburg, the imperial castle - Kaiserburg and the fortress of the city of Nuremberg (Reichsstädtische Burg).

Built in the 11th century burgrave's castle became the basis of the city. But his influence gradually weakened, and in 1420 the burgrave became the property of the city. Several buildings have survived today: Walpurgiskapelle - Chapel of St. Walburga(now there is an Orthodox Church here), "Funfeckturm"- Pentagonal tower and "Burgamtmannshaus"- former administrative building.

Imperial Castle was one of the residences of the head of the Holy Roman Empire - the imperial court traveled around the country. However, it is in Nuremberg the attributes of the emperor's power were kept: the imperial crown, the sacred spear with a built-in nail from the cross of Jesus Christ, the imperial sword, the orb (Reichsapfel), elements of the monarch's vestments. According to the fixed Charles IV As a rule, every new emperor held his first Reichstag here. The castle's structures correspond to its appearance in 1500. The Imperial Palace was built somewhat earlier. The castle preserves the “Deep Well” (Tiefer Brunnen), cut down in case of a siege, and the “Round Tower” (Sinwellturm) from the 12th century, the last line of defense of the castle. The castle now houses a museum of the history of the city, where samples of weapons and defensive equipment are displayed.

Reichsstädtische Burg - “Castle of the Imperial City”- a complex of buildings to the west of the Burgrave Castle, belonged directly to the city.

In the 16th century, the entire castle complex was surrounded by defensive bastions, which today house a park.

Auf der Burg 13, 90403 Nürnberg, Germany

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The Nuremberg Fortress is located north of the Pegnitz River on the top of a cliff (geological sandstone outcrop) overlooking the Sebald Old Town (Sebalder Altstadt). From the fortress observation deck, facing south, there is a magnificent view of the artisans' quarter lying below it and Old city. A few tens of meters south of the foot of the cliff is the house of Albrecht Durer, where the famous artist was born and spent a considerable part of his life.

Sights of the Imperial Fortress

Observation deck

In the southern part of the fortress there is an observation deck overlooking the Old Town ( him. Altstadt). Due to the location of the fortress on a rock prominent in the relatively flat surrounding landscape, visibility from the observation deck is more than ten kilometers.

observation tower

Almost in the center of the fortress ensemble rises an observation tower, which, together with the Imperial Fortress, is a symbol of the city. The spiral wooden staircase along the wall leading to the upper landings, like the spiral staircases of most medieval towers, twists to the right.

There is a fee to visit the tower.

Double Chapel

Three-level chapel: the lower tier was intended for knighthood and retinue, the middle tier, located on the same level with the base of the stone crucifix - for the king and his immediate circle, the balcony located on the wall opposite the altar just below the level of the head of Christ on the crucifix - only for the Kaiser (emperor).

deep well

In the middle of the courtyard in a small stone building there is a so-called "Deep Well" (German Tiefer Brunner). Its adit is cut through the rock on which the castle stands, down to the aquifers that feed the Regnitz River. The depth of the well is 47 meters. Its bottom is located at an altitude of 301.67 m above sea level. The sound from a glass of water poured into the adit returns back to the listener only after 5 seconds. There is a fee to visit the well.

Fortress Museum

There is a fee to visit the museum.

Wall Gardens

The gardens of the fortress and the part of the city wall open to the public, overlooking the inner part of the Old Town to the Albrecht Dürer House, are open to the public.

Review

Currently, due to various developments over several centuries since its foundation, the Nuremberg Fortress is considered to consist of three parts. However, it seems possible to make a clear division of their boundaries only conditionally.

Archaeological research

Behind last years When examining burials on the territory of the fortress, traces of settlements founded earlier than 1000 were found (previously it was believed that the settlement of the top of the fortress mountain began in the first or second century of the second millennium). At the same time, the foundation of a round watchtower with a wall thickness of over two meters was discovered, which representatives of the Bavarian administration cultural heritage was dated to around 1000 AD.

Nuremberg Fortress - detailed description Kaiserburg Castle in Nuremberg, photo, history and location on the map, opening hours.

Kaiserburg Castle

The Kaiserburg Imperial Castle or Nuremberg Fortress is a real symbol of Nuremberg. Since the depths of the Middle Ages, its silhouette symbolizes the strength of the Holy Roman Empire, as well as its huge role in the history of Germany and the German nation.

Kaiserburg is located in the heart of the Old Town on the top of a rocky sandstone cliff. Some points here offer stunning views of the Old Town. It is often called the imperial castle, although the surviving part is just fragments of the complex arrangement of the castle.

Short story

The documented history of the castle begins in 1050, when the first written mentions of it were discovered. In the 11th century, the castle was the property of local nobles. In the 12th century, it was repeatedly the scene of skirmishes and local conflicts; it was damaged and rebuilt again.

Thanks to its favorable location - at the junction of important trade routes, the castle is quickly turning into a prosperous city. This was also facilitated by the attention of the royals, who turned Kaiserburg into their residence. In the first half of the 13th century, Frederick II awarded Nuremberg the status of an imperial city with broad rights.

In the late Middle Ages, Nuremberg turned into one of the centers of Europe, which was also facilitated by the bull issued in 1354 by Charles IV, which stated that every new Holy Roman Emperor should hold his first Reichstag here.

Kaiserburg remained the imperial residence until 1663, when the Reichstag moved to Regensburg after the Thirty Years' War.

After the end of the Empire, Nuremberg became part of Bavaria. Kaiserburg becomes an important monument of German history.

In the 19th century, the castle experienced several reconstructions and rebuildings.

In the 30s of the 20th century, Nuremberg and the castle became one of the important ideological cities for Nazi Germany.

In 1945, Kaiserburg was heavily destroyed. Although many Romanesque and Gothic details were preserved. The castle was restored in the spirit of historical authenticity.

Description of Kaiserburg

Kaiserburg is one of the most significant castles in Germany. The huge castle complex still amazes the imagination.

One of the oldest buildings in the castle is the Imperial Double Chapel, which dates back to the early 13th century.

The palace is also very interesting - the imperial living and ceremonial premises, in which details of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance have been preserved.

You should also pay attention to the deep well - the main source of water in the castle since the 14th century. And the magnificent 13th century round tower offers a beautiful panorama.

Kaiserburg can be roughly divided into 3 selves:

The Count's Castle is the oldest part
The imperial castle itself - a palace, a chapel, a round tower, a well.
Additional facilities.

Operating mode

April - September from 9.00 to 18.00
March-October from 10.00 to 16.00

Ticket prices

Full ticket with admission to all museums and attractions of Kaiserburg - 7 euros. Children (under 18 years old) - free.

Monument of medieval architecture of the city of Nuremberg. It consists of the Imperial Fortress in the western part and the Burgrave Fortress in the eastern part. The fortifications, damaged during the Allied bombing of Nuremberg in World War II, were completely restored to their historical condition after the war ended. The Nuremberg Fortress is one of the most significant architectural and cultural monuments of the city.

Nuremberg Fortress is located north of the Pegnitz River on the top of a cliff (geological sandstone outcrop) overlooking the Sebald Old Town. The fortress observation platform, facing south, offers a magnificent view of the artisans' quarter and the Old Town lying below it. A few tens of meters south of the foot of the cliff is the house of Albrecht Durer, where the famous artist was born and spent a considerable part of his life.

In the southern part of the Imperial Fortress there is an observation deck overlooking the Old City. Due to the location of the fortress on a rock prominent in the relatively flat surrounding landscape, visibility from the observation deck is more than ten kilometers.

In the middle of the courtyard, in a small stone building, there is the so-called “Deep Well”. Its adit is cut through the rock on which the castle stands, down to the aquifers that feed the Regnitz River. The depth of the well is 47 meters. Its bottom is located at an altitude of 301.67 m above sea level. The sound from a glass of water poured into the adit returns back to the listener only after 5 seconds. There is a fee to visit the well.

The Burgrave's castle belonged to the Hohenzollern family since the 12th century. However, they did not have good relations with the townspeople, who eventually survived from here as representatives of a powerful family, whose influence spread throughout Germany. When at the beginning of the 15th century. The Burgrave of Nuremberg, Frederick VI of Hohenzollern, had the opportunity to acquire the Electorate of Brandenburg and become an Elector; he parted with the castle without regret, selling it to the city, and invested the money in a “new project.” They say that the citizens of Nuremberg built the Luginsland Tower specifically to observe what was happening in the castle. From the tower you can almost look into its windows.

In recent years, during studies of burials on the territory of the Burgraf fortress, traces of settlements founded earlier than 1000 have been found (previously it was believed that the settlement of the top of the fortress mountain began in the first or second century of the second millennium). At the same time, the foundation of a round watchtower with walls over two meters thick was discovered, which was dated around 1000 AD by representatives of the Bavarian Cultural Heritage Office.

Nuremberg Fortress

View of the Nuremberg Fortress from the Old Town (South)

Nuremberg Fortress (him. Nürnberger Burg listen)) - a monument of medieval architecture of the city of Nuremberg. Comprises Imperial Fortress (Kaiserburg) in western and Burgrave Fortress (Burggrafenburg) in the eastern part. The fortifications, damaged during the Allied bombing of Nuremberg in World War II, were completely restored to their historical condition after the war ended. The Nuremberg Fortress is one of the most significant architectural and cultural monuments of the city.

View of Burg from the north. 1809

Position

The Nuremberg Fortress is located north of the Pegnitz River on the top of a cliff (geological sandstone outcrop) overlooking the Sebald Old Town (Sebalder Altstadt). The fortress observation deck, facing south, offers a magnificent view of the underlying Craftsmen's Quarter and the Old Town. A few tens of meters south of the foot of the cliff is the house of Albrecht Durer, where the famous artist was born and spent a considerable part of his life.

Sights of the Imperial Fortress

Observation deck

observation tower

Double Chapel

deep well

Fortress Museum

There is a fee to visit the museum.

Dungeons and adits

During the Middle Ages, beer cellars were located in the basements of the fortress. During World War II, in one of the dungeons of the fortress, Allied troops discovered a Nazi bunker hiding place with countless art objects from looted museums in Europe. One of the exhibits was the so-called Vienna Spear or Spear of Destiny, stolen by Hitler from one of the museums in Vienna. After the surrender of Germany, the valuables were returned to museums.

Wall Gardens

The gardens of the fortress and the part of the city wall open to the public, overlooking the inner part of the Old Town to the Albrecht Dürer House, are open to the public.

Sights of the Burgrave Fortress

Review

Archaeological research

In recent years, during studies of burials on the territory of the fortress, traces of settlements founded earlier than 1000 have been found (previously it was believed that the settlement of the top of the fortress mountain began in the first or second century of the second millennium). At the same time, the foundation of a round watchtower with a wall thickness of over two meters was discovered, which was dated around 1000 AD by representatives of the Bavarian Office of Cultural Heritage. e.