The Nuremberg Castle together with the city wall is meant to be one of Europe's most considerable medieval defensive systems.

Seven gates provided access to the city:[SL 2] it consisted of the towers (Laufer Tor, Frauentor, Spittlertor and Neutor) and two pedestrian passages (Hallertürlein on the north bank of the Pegnitz in the west and Wöhrder Türlein in the east).

Where the Pegnitz leaves the city, it was imposingly spanned by the Fronveste from 1489/94; in the east the Tratzenzwinger secured the river entry.

In 1556–64 the four gate towers were encased and given their present-day impressive appearance: the Laufertorturm (Laufer Tor in the northeast), the Frauentorturm (Frauentor in the southeast), the Spittlertorturm (Spittlertor in the southwest) and the Neutorturm (Neutor in the northwest).

Instead, from as early as the Thirty Years' War, Nuremberg had protections in the form of entrenchments far from the city limits.

A long period of economic stagnation till the industrial revolution in the 19th century had a museum like preservative effect on the building stock of Nuremberg.

[SL 1] An application made by the city to de-fortify in 1863 was rejected, as Nuremberg's fortresses were viewed as a stabilising factor in the face of social unrest.

In the following years there were repeated arguments about the preservation or demolition of the city wall, for the time being the king reserved the final decision on any structural change.

[SL 5] Further breakthroughs in the wall were created: the Sterntor in 1869, the Wöhrder Tor in 1871, the Hallertor in 1881 and the Fürth Gate in 1894 in the form of a bridge.

[SL 6] Even though it has been heavily restored or rebuilt in parts, the city wall has been almost completely preserved and surrounds the old town.

In contrast to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, for example, a medieval wall with walkable battlements does not shape the picture.