Imperial Castle of Nuremberg - Most Important Imperial Palaces of the Holy Roman Empire

The Imperial Castle of Nuremberg was one of the most important imperial palaces in the Holy Roman Empire During the Middle Ages. For centuries it stood at the heart of European history and was a secure base and prestigious residence for the Empire’s head of state. Erected over earlier buildings under the Hohenstaufen dynasty and its successors, the extensive castle complex is famous all over the world as the symbol of Nuremberg. Now it is the symbol of Nuremberg.

 

In 1945 practically the entire Imperial Castle lay in ruins, but important Romanesque and late Gothic sections survived virtually unscathed. Immediately after the war, Rudolf Esterer rebuilt the complex almost exactly as he had before the war on the principle of "creative conservation". It took some thirty years to complete the rebuilding and restoration to its present state.

 

The Romanesque Imperial Chapel is the most important part of the castle in art-historical terms. It was built around 1200 along with the "Palas". The latter consists of a hall structure with two chambers one above the other, along with a residential wing with several chambers. The "Palas" and double chapel were skilfully adapted to the irregular contours of the cliff.

 

Double chapels characteristically consist of two chapels with an identical ground plan placed one above the other, and they may be linked by an opening in the centre. The Imperial Gallery – a special aspect of the Nuremberg double chapel – gave the head of state direct access to the chapel from the upper hall and the imperial chambers of the "Palas", while maintaining his distance from the imperial household. An oratory provided with heating was incorporated into it for Emperor Charles V in 1520.

 

The Deep Well at the centre of the outer bailey was very probably created in its earliest building period to provide an independent water supply for the Castle. The shaft goes down nearly 50 metres deep into the castle rock. A film showing a descent into it, and a vivid guided tour, enable visitors to appreciate its depth.

 

The Imperial Castle is recorded as having had a number of different gardens during its many centuries of history, none of which have been preserved. Between 1538 and 1545, bastions were built on the north and west side of the castle, on which at a later date the present castle garden was laid out. On the large bastion there is a square parterre with roses, framed by trees, including pagoda trees (sophora japonica). From here there is a path leading to the southern part of the garden on the lower bastion. The circular bed in the centre is surrounded by neatly clipped maples.

 

In addition to these, the Imperial Castle also has the Maria Sibylla Merian Garden next to the Heathens Tower, which is named after the important Nuremberg artist and naturalist. The centuries-old "Kunigunden lime tree", which had to be replaced in 1934, stood in the inner courtyard. It or its predecessor is said to have been planted by the canonized Empress Kunigunde. The castle court is thought to have convened under this tree.

 

The permanent exhibition in the castle was redesigned by the Bavarian Palace Administration together with the Nuremberg museums in 2013. The new concept shows not only clear explanations of the elements and function of the castle in their historical context, but also presents information about the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation and the role of Nuremberg in the late Middle Ages in a vivid and exciting form that will appeal to visitors of all ages.

 

The Germanisches Nationalmuseum is the largest museum of cultural history in the German-speaking countries and holds one of Germany’s most important collections of historical weapons. The museum’s "Imperial Castle Museum" annexe presents numerous original items from its holdings. The collection provides insights into developments in technological and cultural history and the importance of historical weapons from the 12th to the 19th centuries – weapons that were used not only inside castles.

 

These insights into the history of arms are accompanied by authentic views from the windows onto the surroundings of the castle and the city hinterland – providing visitors with excellent ways of visualizing everyday history around the castle and world-historical events on the horizon from the height of the "Kemenate" (Lady's Apartments).