Nuremberg, Germany: The Medieval Jail

Dear friends,
some photos and a short video clip from our recent trip to Nuremberg, about two hours from where I live. The old Lochgefängnis (hole prison, but it doesn't really have "holes") consists of 3 death row cells, one actual torture chamber (thumbscrews and vertical rack, a 60 pound stone), 4 regular jail cells (with the stocks still in place!) and one cell each for arsonists (red rooster) and slanderers (black cat). What impressed of course most was the chain room, that had some 15 restraints strung up that you can actually touch - they are some of the heaviest I ever saw. The whole jail dates from the 13th century, some of the wood is still from the late middle ages. The whole place is amazing because it appears almost unchanged after it was closed in 1810.


Outside the Town Hall


Inside the jail



Cell with stocks




Arsonist's Cell



Torture Chamber. A hole in the roof allowed magistrates to hear the confession. Scary Room


Thumbscrews



Toilet (only for the guards, the inmates had a bucket that with a piece of wood also served as a table )



The Chain Room














You really can handle all the exhibits (taken from a local newspaper)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal ... _3002.html


A video I took of the chain room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otlaFpxN7SQ



The castle (rebuilt after WW2, Nuremberg as well as the castle were mostly destroyed)






Siege instruments


The chapel of the castle

Thanks, Nils. Great photos. I was in Nuremberg last year, for the IWA, but by the time I could get to the Medieval Jail it was closed. Hopefully you also got to see the nearby Toy Museum.

Dear friends,
some photos and a short video clip from our recent trip to Nuremberg, about two hours from where I live. The old Lochgefängnis (hole prison, but it doesn't really have "holes") consists of 3 death row cells, one actual torture chamber (thumbscrews and vertical rack, a 60 pound stone), 4 regular jail cells (with the stocks still in place!) and one cell each for arsonists (red rooster) and slanderers (black cat). What impressed of course most was the chain room, that had some 15 restraints strung up that you can actually touch - they are some of the heaviest I ever saw. The whole jail dates from the 13th century, some of the wood is still from the late middle ages. The whole place is amazing because it appears almost unchanged after it was closed in 1810.


Outside the Town Hall


Inside the jail



Cell with stocks




Arsonist's Cell



Torture Chamber. A hole in the roof allowed magistrates to hear the confession. Scary Room


Thumbscrews



Toilet (only for the guards, the inmates had a bucket that with a piece of wood also served as a table )



The Chain Room














You really can handle all the exhibits (taken from a local newspaper)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal ... _3002.html


A video I took of the chain room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otlaFpxN7SQ



The castle (rebuilt after WW2, Nuremberg as well as the castle were mostly destroyed)






Siege instruments


The chapel of the castle

Click to expand...

@ Nils, Thanks for sharing photos of your visit.

Dear friends,
some photos and a short video clip from our recent trip to Nuremberg, about two hours from where I live. The old Lochgefängnis (hole prison, but it doesn't really have "holes") consists of 3 death row cells, one actual torture chamber (thumbscrews and vertical rack, a 60 pound stone), 4 regular jail cells (with the stocks still in place!) and one cell each for arsonists (red rooster) and slanderers (black cat). What impressed of course most was the chain room, that had some 15 restraints strung up that you can actually touch - they are some of the heaviest I ever saw. The whole jail dates from the 13th century, some of the wood is still from the late middle ages. The whole place is amazing because it appears almost unchanged after it was closed in 1810.


Outside the Town Hall


Inside the jail



Cell with stocks




Arsonist's Cell



Torture Chamber. A hole in the roof allowed magistrates to hear the confession. Scary Room


Thumbscrews



Toilet (only for the guards, the inmates had a bucket that with a piece of wood also served as a table )



The Chain Room














You really can handle all the exhibits (taken from a local newspaper)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal ... _3002.html


A video I took of the chain room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otlaFpxN7SQ



The castle (rebuilt after WW2, Nuremberg as well as the castle were mostly destroyed)






Siege instruments


The chapel of the castle

Click to expand...

Truly amazing images. Thanks!

Dear friends,
some photos and a short video clip from our recent trip to Nuremberg, about two hours from where I live. The old Lochgefängnis (hole prison, but it doesn't really have "holes") consists of 3 death row cells, one actual torture chamber (thumbscrews and vertical rack, a 60 pound stone), 4 regular jail cells (with the stocks still in place!) and one cell each for arsonists (red rooster) and slanderers (black cat). What impressed of course most was the chain room, that had some 15 restraints strung up that you can actually touch - they are some of the heaviest I ever saw. The whole jail dates from the 13th century, some of the wood is still from the late middle ages. The whole place is amazing because it appears almost unchanged after it was closed in 1810.


Outside the Town Hall


Inside the jail



Cell with stocks




Arsonist's Cell



Torture Chamber. A hole in the roof allowed magistrates to hear the confession. Scary Room


Thumbscrews



Toilet (only for the guards, the inmates had a bucket that with a piece of wood also served as a table )



The Chain Room














You really can handle all the exhibits (taken from a local newspaper)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal ... _3002.html


A video I took of the chain room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otlaFpxN7SQ



The castle (rebuilt after WW2, Nuremberg as well as the castle were mostly destroyed)






Siege instruments


The chapel of the castle

Click to expand...

Fantastic photos Nils! Thanks for sharing them with the rest of us.

Dear friends,
some photos and a short video clip from our recent trip to Nuremberg, about two hours from where I live. The old Lochgefängnis (hole prison, but it doesn't really have "holes") consists of 3 death row cells, one actual torture chamber (thumbscrews and vertical rack, a 60 pound stone), 4 regular jail cells (with the stocks still in place!) and one cell each for arsonists (red rooster) and slanderers (black cat). What impressed of course most was the chain room, that had some 15 restraints strung up that you can actually touch - they are some of the heaviest I ever saw. The whole jail dates from the 13th century, some of the wood is still from the late middle ages. The whole place is amazing because it appears almost unchanged after it was closed in 1810.


Outside the Town Hall


Inside the jail



Cell with stocks




Arsonist's Cell



Torture Chamber. A hole in the roof allowed magistrates to hear the confession. Scary Room


Thumbscrews



Toilet (only for the guards, the inmates had a bucket that with a piece of wood also served as a table )



The Chain Room














You really can handle all the exhibits (taken from a local newspaper)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal ... _3002.html


A video I took of the chain room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otlaFpxN7SQ



The castle (rebuilt after WW2, Nuremberg as well as the castle were mostly destroyed)






Siege instruments


The chapel of the castle

Click to expand...

Thanks for the great shots. Amazing what's on display at many locations.

Ron

Dear friends,
some photos and a short video clip from our recent trip to Nuremberg, about two hours from where I live. The old Lochgefängnis (hole prison, but it doesn't really have "holes") consists of 3 death row cells, one actual torture chamber (thumbscrews and vertical rack, a 60 pound stone), 4 regular jail cells (with the stocks still in place!) and one cell each for arsonists (red rooster) and slanderers (black cat). What impressed of course most was the chain room, that had some 15 restraints strung up that you can actually touch - they are some of the heaviest I ever saw. The whole jail dates from the 13th century, some of the wood is still from the late middle ages. The whole place is amazing because it appears almost unchanged after it was closed in 1810.


Outside the Town Hall


Inside the jail



Cell with stocks




Arsonist's Cell



Torture Chamber. A hole in the roof allowed magistrates to hear the confession. Scary Room


Thumbscrews



Toilet (only for the guards, the inmates had a bucket that with a piece of wood also served as a table )



The Chain Room














You really can handle all the exhibits (taken from a local newspaper)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal ... _3002.html


A video I took of the chain room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otlaFpxN7SQ



The castle (rebuilt after WW2, Nuremberg as well as the castle were mostly destroyed)






Siege instruments


The chapel of the castle

Click to expand...

Thanks Nils for sharing your photos!

Just seeing the pictures gives me sort of an eerie feeling, imagining what the place would've been like in it's heyday - I'd hate to spend much time there, even as a guard!

Was there an obvious difference between the "rooster" and the "cat" cells? I mean, besides who their intended captives were?

VERY cool,
--Vince

Dear friends,
some photos and a short video clip from our recent trip to Nuremberg, about two hours from where I live. The old Lochgefängnis (hole prison, but it doesn't really have "holes") consists of 3 death row cells, one actual torture chamber (thumbscrews and vertical rack, a 60 pound stone), 4 regular jail cells (with the stocks still in place!) and one cell each for arsonists (red rooster) and slanderers (black cat). What impressed of course most was the chain room, that had some 15 restraints strung up that you can actually touch - they are some of the heaviest I ever saw. The whole jail dates from the 13th century, some of the wood is still from the late middle ages. The whole place is amazing because it appears almost unchanged after it was closed in 1810.


Outside the Town Hall


Inside the jail



Cell with stocks




Arsonist's Cell



Torture Chamber. A hole in the roof allowed magistrates to hear the confession. Scary Room


Thumbscrews



Toilet (only for the guards, the inmates had a bucket that with a piece of wood also served as a table )



The Chain Room














You really can handle all the exhibits (taken from a local newspaper)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal ... _3002.html


A video I took of the chain room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otlaFpxN7SQ



The castle (rebuilt after WW2, Nuremberg as well as the castle were mostly destroyed)






Siege instruments


The chapel of the castle

Click to expand...

All I can say is "WOW".

Thanks so much Nils.

Dear friends,
some photos and a short video clip from our recent trip to Nuremberg, about two hours from where I live. The old Lochgefängnis (hole prison, but it doesn't really have "holes") consists of 3 death row cells, one actual torture chamber (thumbscrews and vertical rack, a 60 pound stone), 4 regular jail cells (with the stocks still in place!) and one cell each for arsonists (red rooster) and slanderers (black cat). What impressed of course most was the chain room, that had some 15 restraints strung up that you can actually touch - they are some of the heaviest I ever saw. The whole jail dates from the 13th century, some of the wood is still from the late middle ages. The whole place is amazing because it appears almost unchanged after it was closed in 1810.


Outside the Town Hall


Inside the jail



Cell with stocks




Arsonist's Cell



Torture Chamber. A hole in the roof allowed magistrates to hear the confession. Scary Room


Thumbscrews



Toilet (only for the guards, the inmates had a bucket that with a piece of wood also served as a table )



The Chain Room














You really can handle all the exhibits (taken from a local newspaper)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal ... _3002.html


A video I took of the chain room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otlaFpxN7SQ



The castle (rebuilt after WW2, Nuremberg as well as the castle were mostly destroyed)






Siege instruments


The chapel of the castle

Click to expand...

Thank you for your kind words.

The "rooster" and "cat" cells were quite the same, neither much different about them nor anything special.


Nils

Dear friends,
some photos and a short video clip from our recent trip to Nuremberg, about two hours from where I live. The old Lochgefängnis (hole prison, but it doesn't really have "holes") consists of 3 death row cells, one actual torture chamber (thumbscrews and vertical rack, a 60 pound stone), 4 regular jail cells (with the stocks still in place!) and one cell each for arsonists (red rooster) and slanderers (black cat). What impressed of course most was the chain room, that had some 15 restraints strung up that you can actually touch - they are some of the heaviest I ever saw. The whole jail dates from the 13th century, some of the wood is still from the late middle ages. The whole place is amazing because it appears almost unchanged after it was closed in 1810.


Outside the Town Hall


Inside the jail



Cell with stocks




Arsonist's Cell



Torture Chamber. A hole in the roof allowed magistrates to hear the confession. Scary Room


Thumbscrews



Toilet (only for the guards, the inmates had a bucket that with a piece of wood also served as a table )



The Chain Room














You really can handle all the exhibits (taken from a local newspaper)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal ... _3002.html


A video I took of the chain room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otlaFpxN7SQ



The castle (rebuilt after WW2, Nuremberg as well as the castle were mostly destroyed)






Siege instruments


The chapel of the castle

Click to expand...

Very nice video and pictorial coverage, Nils!

The old adage "absolute power corrupts absolutely" comes to mind here.

Regards,
Jason

Dear friends,
some photos and a short video clip from our recent trip to Nuremberg, about two hours from where I live. The old Lochgefängnis (hole prison, but it doesn't really have "holes") consists of 3 death row cells, one actual torture chamber (thumbscrews and vertical rack, a 60 pound stone), 4 regular jail cells (with the stocks still in place!) and one cell each for arsonists (red rooster) and slanderers (black cat). What impressed of course most was the chain room, that had some 15 restraints strung up that you can actually touch - they are some of the heaviest I ever saw. The whole jail dates from the 13th century, some of the wood is still from the late middle ages. The whole place is amazing because it appears almost unchanged after it was closed in 1810.


Outside the Town Hall


Inside the jail



Cell with stocks




Arsonist's Cell



Torture Chamber. A hole in the roof allowed magistrates to hear the confession. Scary Room


Thumbscrews



Toilet (only for the guards, the inmates had a bucket that with a piece of wood also served as a table )



The Chain Room














You really can handle all the exhibits (taken from a local newspaper)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal ... _3002.html


A video I took of the chain room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otlaFpxN7SQ



The castle (rebuilt after WW2, Nuremberg as well as the castle were mostly destroyed)






Siege instruments


The chapel of the castle

Click to expand...

One thing that is catching my eye is in pictures 10 & 12, the one that looks like a bilboe style leg iron. I see a slot in the end that reminds me of a Hamburg 8 cuff lock keyhole.

-Dorson

Dear friends,
some photos and a short video clip from our recent trip to Nuremberg, about two hours from where I live. The old Lochgefängnis (hole prison, but it doesn't really have "holes") consists of 3 death row cells, one actual torture chamber (thumbscrews and vertical rack, a 60 pound stone), 4 regular jail cells (with the stocks still in place!) and one cell each for arsonists (red rooster) and slanderers (black cat). What impressed of course most was the chain room, that had some 15 restraints strung up that you can actually touch - they are some of the heaviest I ever saw. The whole jail dates from the 13th century, some of the wood is still from the late middle ages. The whole place is amazing because it appears almost unchanged after it was closed in 1810.


Outside the Town Hall


Inside the jail



Cell with stocks




Arsonist's Cell



Torture Chamber. A hole in the roof allowed magistrates to hear the confession. Scary Room


Thumbscrews



Toilet (only for the guards, the inmates had a bucket that with a piece of wood also served as a table )



The Chain Room














You really can handle all the exhibits (taken from a local newspaper)

http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/portal ... _3002.html


A video I took of the chain room:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otlaFpxN7SQ



The castle (rebuilt after WW2, Nuremberg as well as the castle were mostly destroyed)






Siege instruments


The chapel of the castle

Click to expand...

Than a Hamburg 8. Actually a multiple spring wedge lock.

S.S.