St. Catherine's Church was consecrated in the distant year of 1297. Formerly one of the largest churches in Nuremberg, today it is a silent testimony of the Second World War passing through the Franconian capital.
Throughout the past centuries, the church served different purposes. The building was however destroyed in an air raid on the city on January 2, 1945. From then on, the now open-air site was occasionally used as a space for music concerts.
During the period of Nazi Germany, the church played an important porpaganda role. The Third Reich called itself an empire, a continuation of the medieval German and Prussian empires. According to National Socialist theology, the spirit of the German people resided in each of its individuals, so the creation and maintenance of symbols recognizable by all of them was of vital importance.
After the annexation of Austria in 1938, Hitler ordered that the insignia of the Holy Roman Empire, specifically the crown of Charlemagne, be transferred from Vienna to Nuremberg and be kept in the church of Saint Catherine. They would remain there until 1945, when they were returned to Vienna, where they can still be admired today.
The church of Santa Catalina was never rebuilt. Today it is a silent testimony of the passage of the war through the city.
How to get to the ruins of the Church of Santa Catalina
The ruins of the Church of Saint Catherine of Nuremberg are located in the historic center of the city. The best way to get there is on foot.