Over many centuries, Nuremberg's citizens dug vaults and passages into the glowing multicolored sandstone beneath their city. In 1380, the extensive rock cellar complex was first mentioned in documents. Throughout all those years, the cellars primarily served for the maturation and storage of beer – above all, the red Nuremberg city beer. Today, the Hausbrauerei Altstadthof uses a small part of the branched, labyrinthine cellar system for the maturation and storage of specialty beers and beer brandies.
Various themed tours offer unique audio experiences in Nuremberg's underworld.