Nuremberg Castle, Medieval double castle on a sandstone ridge in Nuremberg, Germany
Nuremberg Castle is a double castle of three parts on a sandstone ridge: the Imperial Castle with the Sinwell Tower, the Deep Well and the Romanesque double chapel, the former Burgraves' Castle with the Pentagonal Tower, and the city's own buildings to the east. The Sinwell Tower is cylindrical, its Middle High German name meaning perfectly round, and was raised by a floor and a pointed pavilion roof in the 1560s.
Construction started around the year 1000 under the Salian dynasty, which established a first residence for imperial assemblies. During the 12th century under the Hohenstaufen emperors, the site took its current form and served as a regular residence for rulers of the Holy Roman Empire until the 16th century.
The double chapel inside the palace features two stacked rooms connected by a circular opening in the ceiling, allowing emperors and courtiers to participate in services from separate levels. Visitors today can walk through both floors and see how this medieval design kept social distance while enabling shared worship, a solution that shaped religious architecture across the empire.
Visitors reach the fortress on foot through several routes from the old town and should wear sturdy shoes, as stairs and pathways can be steep in places. Guided tours of the living quarters and well provide insights into the construction history and explain how the water supply worked through the rock shaft.
The Deep Well in the castle courtyard reaches about 164 feet (50 meters) into the solid sandstone rock and was carved entirely by hand into the natural stone. During guided tours, a burning light is lowered into the shaft so visitors can see the full depth and the smooth rock walls.
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