Medieval Dungeons
© Christine DierenbachKey facts:
- located in the vaulted cellars of the Historical City Hall
- have been used since the 14th century for the examination and custody of prisoners until their sentences were carried out
- the prisoners had to spend the time until they were sentenced in complete darkness
- prisoners had to pay for their own room and board
The dungeons are found in the cellar vaults of the Old Town Hall. They were set up in the 14th c. to serve as cells for prisoners awaiting trial or in custody until their execution. The dungeons were used by the city of Nuremberg in the Middle Ages as a remand prison, The floor, ceilings and walls are lined with wooden panels. They were furnished with a bed, bench, a board as a table and a heating basin in the window. Certain offenders, such as arsonists or slanderers, were kept in the dungeons in specially marked cells. The so-called chapel was used as a torture to extract confessions. The method of torture was decided by the municipal court, which met in the large room of the old town hall.
At a glance
Information
Medieval DungeonsRathausplatz 2
90403 Nürnberg
+49 (0)911 2312690
+49 (0)911 2312921
Webseite
Audio files
Opening hours
The Medieval Dungeons are closed due to Covid-19!
Guided Tours with the Media Guide:
Date: From March daily at 11 am, 12, 1, 2, 3 pm
Duration: 30 minutes
Language: Available in German, English, Spanish an Italian
Meeting point: Ehrenhalle, Rathausplatz 2, 90403 Nürnberg
For Law and Order: Tour of the Town Hall and the medieval dungeons
The tour shows how in days gone by the Nuremberg Town Hall was structured and how the city was governed. During their tour of the medieval dungeons visitors will gain an insight into the legal system of the old free imperial city.
Duration: 60 minutes
Price: 3,- € (+admission fee)
Group tours:
Available in German an English, please inquire about other language
Book here: Education Department of the Museum in Nuremberg (KPZ); Phone: +49 911 1331241; E-Mail: schulen@kpz-nuernberg.de
Prices
Guided Tours
The dungeons can be viewed only during a ca. 30 min. tour. These take place every half hour for groups of 5 or more.
Basic information on accessibility
Not accessible for wheelchairs