The Inquisition

You have survived the Great Fire of Hamburg and now you are in for one of the darkest eras of recorded history: the days of the inquisition. But don’t worry – at the Hamburg Dungeon, it’s more about the fun than anything else – unless you’re one of the unlucky souls who has to confess their sins on the docks.

From the 15th to the 17th century, the inquisition made a stop in Hamburg. A small wart, a mole, red hair or simple false accusations by a vengeful neighbor were enough to be accused of witchcraft. At the Hamburg Dungeon you will meet the stern inquisitor in his courtroom. Just one look at you is all he needs, he can see right away that you are trying to hide away something. You have to remain in the docks until you confess or until your guilt has been proven. And the inquisitor of the city of Hamburg is not at all squeamish, he wants to hear every little detail and truly enjoys watching you suffer.

The inquisition at the Hamburg Dungeon thrives off the enjoyment and the interaction of the audience, for the eccentric judge picks his defendants personally from your group. No matter whether your crime be witchcraft, gluttony, or treason, his motto is always: “down with these felons, penalties are necessities!”

• Meet the judge and his large book of secrets.
• Three criminals, three crimes, three culprits.
• Find out who got caught red-handed.

The most heinous criminals would be executed in front of Hamburg city hall!

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Who will float and who will sink?
• Was it against the law to dance naked in the dark?
• What happens to those who are found guilty?

HAMBURG DUNGEON UNCOVERED

The costumes of the show have been designed to accurately depict judges of this time. The same accuracy in representation holds true for the arbitrary accusations and reasoning. Women were accused of being witches because they allegedly possessed the so-called “evil eye” and caused harm by merely glancing at their victims.

Particularly those who weren’t Christian had to suffer from false accusation due to the Catholic church attempting to silence anyone they saw as infidels.

Almost 40 men and women were burned at the stake between 1444 and 1642 in Hamburg. Whether they were guilty or not was determined by weighing, picking, or dunking the accused witches.