Nuremberg Palace of Justice, Nuremberg (must see)

The Palace of Justice in Nuremberg is a significant building complex constructed between 1909 and 1916. It encompasses various judicial bodies including the appellate court (Oberlandesgericht), the regional court (Landgericht), the local court (Amtsgericht), and the public prosecutor's office (Staatsanwaltschaft). The complex is notably home to the Nuremberg Trials Memorial (Memorium Nürnberger Prozesse) situated on the top floor of the courthouse.

This building was selected for the Nuremberg trials, held between 1945 and 1949, where major surviving German war criminals of World War II were prosecuted. The choice of the Nuremberg Palace of Justice was strategic due to its almost untouched state post-war, ample space, and an adjoining large prison complex. Nuremberg itself was a symbolic location given its history with the Nazi Party's large rallies.

The trials primarily took place in Courtroom 600, located in the building's eastern wing. This courtroom, which is still operational today and often used for murder trials, underwent modifications after the trials. A previously removed wall was reinstalled to decrease the space, and the judges’ bench was rotated 90 degrees from its original position.

Starting in the year 2000, tourists were able to visit Courtroom 600 on weekends. The Nuremberg Trials Memorial, managed by the Nuremberg Municipal Museums, was inaugurated in November 2010. Since 2022, a media installation has been providing visitors with a virtual representation of the courtroom as it appeared during the Nuremberg Trials.