Lochgefängnisse Nürnberg, Medieval prison in Nuremberg, Germany.
The Lochgefängnisse is a medieval prison located in the cellar vaults beneath the Old Town Hall and contains roughly 15 cells. The rooms are small and dark, built of stone, and hold only simple furnishings and chains for the inmates.
The prison was established in 1332 when Nuremberg converted a former monastery building into a town hall with judicial functions. It remained an important site of city justice across the centuries.
The cells show how people were punished for different crimes during the Middle Ages, and the names of prisoners are still scratched into the walls. These carved inscriptions tell personal stories of people who were held here.
A visit involves descending narrow stairs into deep cellar rooms where conditions are cool and damp. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and allow time to explore the cramped corridors at a relaxed pace.
Cell number 11 bears a red rooster symbol marking arsonists, while cell number 12 shows a black cat for prisoners accused of slander. These visual markings helped guards and visitors immediately recognize the crimes of those held inside.
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