Stadtmauer
1/7
×
The city walls are one of the most important monuments, which surround almost the entire old town. There is a preserved moat around it, where there are paths accessible to the public. The moat itself is largely designed as a park. The massive bastions are established as a city garden and are open to the public.
The fact that Nuremberg was conquered only once in its history is mainly thanks to its city fortifications. Its length is about five kilometres and in the Middle Ages it was considered unbeatable. It is assumed that the first fortification dates back to the 11th century. In the 13th century, the districts of Sebald and Lorenz were annexed. Of these two districts the Laufer Schlagtower has been preserved on the Sebaldic side.
The Laufer Schlagtower is the gate of the tower of the penultimate city fortifications of Nuremberg. The name comes from the timing clock here. It was built around 1250, the last two floors and reinforcing pillars were added around 1508. A small piece of the city wall can still be seen north of the tower. It is one of the few remaining towers in Nuremberg. After the transition of the imperial city to Bavaria, there were demolition plans, which were not implemented only thanks to the resistance of the Nuremberg`s citizens.
In the western part of the old town on Ludwigs` Square is the White Tower. As with the Laufer Schlagtower, there are noticeable clocks. The tower is made of bricks and sandstone blocks with a pointed arched passage. Its name is derived from the white plaster of brickwork in earlier years, it was built around 1250. It also has its superstition, evil tongues claim that the White Tower is no longer white, because it should be cleaned by Nuremberg virgins.
