Alte Veste Castle (Ruin)

The Alte Veste, formerly also known as Burg Berch, is a district of the city of Zirndorf, whose center is a lookout tower surrounded by ruined remains. This is located in the forest north of Zirndorf in the Middle Franconian district of Fürth, at the highest point of the Rosenberg (easternmost spur of the Cadolzburg Ridge).

First records of the fortification prove a motte-and-bailey castle existing in the 13th century with the then designation Burg Berch.

On April 29, 1306, the Zirndorf imperial ministerialis Heinrich von Berg sold the Alte Veste to the Burgrave of Nuremberg. He had previously pledged it to the Nuremberg financier Groß.

In the turmoil of the Cities' War of 1387-1389, the existing fortifications were razed by the Nurembergers in 1388.

17th Century

Battle of the Alte Veste: In 1632, during the Thirty Years' War, the ridge around the castle ruins was for several days the scene of a battle between the imperial troops under Wallenstein and the Swedish troops under King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden. The Swedish troops, who were encamped in Nuremberg, attacked Wallenstein's positions in Zirndorf and the surrounding area from the east. Wallenstein had a huge fortified field camp with over 50,000 mercenaries and their entourage built and fortified to the west of Nuremberg. After two days of heavy fighting and thousands of dead on both sides, the battle was broken off by the Swedes. According to historians, Wallenstein won the battle, as the previously victorious Swedes could not win it.

19th Century

On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the battle, a lookout tower was built on the remains of the ruins in 1882, which served as a local recreation area for the inhabitants of Fürth and Nuremberg and was financed by issuing shares.

20th Century to Today

The lookout tower and the vault below it were used by the Wehrmacht in World War II as an anti-aircraft base and for wartime production. The Vestner Tower was blown up by the Wehrmacht on April 19, 1945, shortly before the Allied troops marched in.

In 1979/80, a new tower was built on the site in the forest, which was inaugurated on September 17, 1980. The tower has long since established itself as a landmark of Zirndorf.

Even today, the rectangular foundations of the razed defensive tower can be seen around the tower. The rebuilt tower itself is a popular and freely accessible viewpoint - in good weather, you have an excellent view of Zirndorf, Fürth, Nuremberg, and even the Franconian Switzerland up to the Altmühltal. In the surrounding forest area, you can see the sites of the Thirty Years' War on a marked circular walk, for example (only 400 meters away) a reconstructed part of an artillery redoubt of Wallenstein's defensive fortifications.

The tower is used by the fire brigade as a radio relay station for BOS radio.