Safety instructions

  • Visiting the tower is at your own risk.
  • Parents are responsible for their children
  • There is no elevator – the ascent is via 244 steps.
  • The stairs are steep and narrow – please use the handrails.
  • Mind your head.
  • Let the tower guide know if you are afraid of heights or feel dizzy.
  • Please stay with the group at all times – do not leave the tower alone.
  • Please keep your mobile phone securely stowed when you are on the stairs – you need your hands to hold on.

1st Stop: Room after the spiral staircase

Here you have the opportunity to leave bags, backpacks and other items while visiting the tower.

Brief overview of the church’s history:

  • Construction of the church began around 1230 as a basilica in the Romanesque style.
  • 1255 First altar consecration, 1274 Consecration of the high altar
  • 1309 to 1340/45 Extension of the side aisles in Gothic style and addition of the towers with the spiral staircases
  • 1361 to 1379 Construction of the new Gothic hall choir
  • 1481 to 1495: Towers raised to their current height
  • From 1882 to 1906, the entire church underwent a major restoration, including the stabilization of the towers.
  • Nuremberg was bombed during World War II between 1940 and In January and February 1945, the roofs and the vault of the east choir suffered severe damage. During the American capture of Nuremberg in April, the towers burned down, destroying the 14th and 15th century bells.
  • Reconstruction of the church began in 1946.
  • 1952 Consecration and installation of four new church bells
  • Final roofing of the towers in 1955 and 1956
  • 1957 Re-consecration of the church

2nd Stop: Angel Choir

From up here you have a great view into the late Romanesque nave with the capitals of the columns and the vault.

This gallery with the decorated oriel might have symbolized the presense of the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire who often visited Nuremberg. The name angel choir might refer to archangel Michael who is the emperor’s patron and the whole empire. Hence the nickname „Michel“ of the Germans.

Today, it provides space for a choir or orchestra during special concerts. For some events, there is also seating for guests.

 

3rd Stop: Attic

You are now standing directly above the angels choir. At the western end, you can see a gable with its romanesque decoration, that once was visible from the square in front of the church in the 13th century. Later, this part of the church was rebuilt. However, the gable remained to stabilize the towers.

During the church’s renovation around 1900, new figures were created for the exterior. They were designed by the sculptor Georg Leistner (1854 – 1943), who taught at the School of Applied Arts in Nuremberg. These plaster figures served as models for the stonemasons to carve the limestone figures.

The vault over the nave, which we cross on the footbridge, dates back to the 13th century. It survived World War II. The roof, however, was destroyed and rebuilt here with steel girders. At the base of the funnel-shaped depressions you see that the vault rests on the pillars.

The size of the roof over the east choir is impressive in its size. The roof and vault were destroyed in World War II and later rebuilt. The apex of the vault is approximately 22 meters above the church floor. The roof truss is of the same height. It is almost 43 meters to the end of the choir.

In 2000, the roof was re-covered with over 60,000 tiles and the roof structure was reinforced.

As we continue our ascent, we will pass the large bell. Today, the church has four bells, all recasted in 1952. Three bells hang in the north tower. The largest bell hangs in the south tower and weighs almost four tons. It was casted from the bronze of the destroyed bells. The tone of the bells was tuned to the peal of St. Lorenz Church. This results in a beautiful sound during festive peals, such as on Easter morning or at the opening of the Christmas market.

 

4th Stop: Tower Keeper’s Room and Gallery

Tower watchmen have been documented on the south tower of St. Sebaldus Church and the north tower of St. Lorenz Church since 1388, and from 1440 also on the White Tower and the Laufer Schlagturm (one of the towers of the city wall). The tower watchmen had two important tasks: fire watch and striking the time. In the event of a fire, the tower watchmen had to alert the people of the town, who then all helped to extinguish the blaze.

The watchman’s appartement was originally divided into two floors. The lower level contained the entrances to the gallery. The living area in the upper level had eight windows and a stove. Supplies were delivered by crane. The watchman’s duties ended in Nuremberg in 1806.

Peregrine falcons and kestrels live in the castle and hunt pigeons and other birds. They often eat their prey on the towers of our church. If there are any remains on the gallery, please do not touch them and ignore them, if possible.

You are now 50 meters above the base of the tower. Enjoy the 360-degree view from the gallery over the old town and the surrounding area.

 

Descent

  • Stay with the group and follow the instructions of your guide.
  • Do take your time. You might like to descent the stairs backwards if that’s more convenient for you.
  • Before your guide leads you out of the tower, wait for her/him and the rest of the group in the room after the spiral staircase.
  • Pick up the items you’ve left here.

 Good bye. Hope you’ve had a great experience!