Nuremberg, unification across the Pegnitz

Shortly after Neurenberg is mentioned as having gained market rights from the Holy Roman Emperor Henry III of Swabia in 1050 a charter also grants the citizens the right to erect city defences. These rights extended to both settlements, Berg and Wörd, on either side of a ford across the river Pegnitz on an important trade route linking Bavaria and Bohemia. This river was the borderline between the Bishopric Bamberg (with Norenc-Berg) and the Bishopric of Eichstätt (with Wörd or Wörth). This first city of 1050 was a true double city with an oval shaped walled area around a church on each side of the river. With the bestowal of city rights a bridge was constructed linking the two walled settlements thus cementing this Twin City.

The first city was a true double city with the old Salian Burgh (B) perched on a rock overlooking higher ground with a chapel (K) north of the river Pegnitz. The old ford (V) is located further upstream from the first bridge. The low city on the other bank was organised around a road crossing with another chapel (K) surrounded by a high earth bank (shown in green). Outside of these city defences on both sides a Manor House (H) stands on a main route over higher ground directly adjacent to both settlements.

The local Saint Sebald, venerated in a church reputedly built over his resting place in the northern settlement, drew large crowds of pilgrims. The small Salian castle on a rock north of Berg was expanded to guard the new city and its citizens. Quickly Nuremberg grew to be one of the major centres of Franconia. IN 1219 Frederic II grants Nuremberg the Great Letter of Freedom which includes more chartered freedoms and the Imperial Immediacy. This meant that the city became independent from feudal overlords en answered directly to the Holy Roman Emperor. Around 1245 work starts on the construction of a second larger defensive structure. This wall with 5 gates is completed by 1325 and envelopes both settlements across the river.

What is striking about the second city wall is that is connects both settlement in one continuous structure (shown in red) that crosses the river Pegnitz with two water gates. Most monastic freedoms are located outside of this second wall, as ground is cheap, and thus these institutions are exempt from urban taxes (for instance on brewing beer). The urban institutions and churches are all located within the defensive walls: (1) Castle, (2) Church of St Sebald, (3) City Hall, (4) Church of Our Dear Lady, (5) Church of St Lawrence, (6) Church of St Jacob, (7) Monastery of the Teutonic Order, (8) Friar House, (9) Carthusian Monastery, (10) Poor Clares Convent, (11) Hospital of the Third Order, (12) Convent of St Catherine, (13) Heilsbronnerhof, (14) Franciscan Monastery, (15) Ebracher Hof, (16) Carmelite Convent, (17) Hospital of the Holy Ghost, (18) Augustine Monastery, (19) Dominican Monastery, (20) Frauenauracherhof, (21) Neunkirchner Hof, (22) Eichstätter Hof, (23) House of the Dozen Friars and (24) Monastery of St Egid. In 1350 the New Market (the large square in orange) is created at the site of the Jewish Quarter after the Jews had been forcibly evicted. Other markets around the city are shown in orange.

In 1356 Charles VI issued his Golden Bull naming Nuremberg as the city where every German King should hold their first Imperial Diet. With this Golden Bull the city also becomes the location were the Imperial Mint is founded. Not long after, in 1375, work starts on an even more expansive defensive structure. This third city wall encompasses all the suburbs and religious institutions (churches, hospitals, convents and monasteries). From this moment onwards the northern part of the unified city is known as Sanct Sebald and the southern part as Sanct Lorenz, after both main churches and independent parishes. The new defensive structure consists of walls with towers, 7 city gates and after 1425 a second wall with a dry moat. Within 400 years the two separate settlements on either side of the river have been united into one of the larger cities of the German Holy Roman Empire.

Besides bridges built in the 13th century, new bridges were constructed from the 15th century onwards (shown in orange) to better link the upper and lower cities. The new city wall has 9 gates and a separate back gate: (1) Vestner Tor, (2) Laufer Tor, (3) Wörder Türlein, (4) Frauentor, (5) Sterner Barrier, (6) Spittlertor,  (7) Fürther Barrier, (8) Haller Türlein, (9) Neutor and (10) Tiergärtnertor.In the 19th century new gates were constructed to better link the old city with the suburbs around it: (11) Maxtor, (12) Spitzentor, (13) Königstor, (14) Marientor, (15) Kartäusertor, (16) Färbertor, (17) Ludwigstor, (18) Westtor and (19) Hallertor.