The castle, together with the city walls, is considered to be one of Europe’s most formidable medieval fortifications.

It represented the power and importance of the Holy Roman Empire and the outstanding role of the Imperial City of Nuremberg.

In the Middle Ages, German kings did not have a capital, but voyaged from one of their castles to the next. Thus, the castle at Nürnberg became an important imperial castle, and in the following centuries, all German kings and emperors stayed at the castle, most of whom on several occasions.

Nuremberg Castle comprises three sections: the Imperial castle , the former Burgraves’ castle, and the buildings erected by the Imperial City at the eastern site.

In the 19th century with its general interest in the medieval period, some modifications were added. During the Nazi period, in preparation of the Nuremberg party rally in 1936, it was “returned to its original state.”

A few years later, during World War II and its air raids in 1944/1945, a large part of the castle was laid in ruins.

It took some thirty years to complete the rebuilding and restoration to its present state.