Abstract
Reflection on the function of the castles built by Charles IV in Lauf (next to Nürnberg) and Tangermünde (in Brandenburg) in the context of the charts edited by the emperor. The decoration of Lauf proves that Charles IV sought to represent here the power and authority of the Czech king (the coats of arms of the Lands of the Czech Crown and of the Czech aristocrats).
Tangermünde was intended to be a representative residence of the Luxemburg dynasty as well as of the Brandenburg electors and was probably supposed to play a role of a model residence for the other electors of the Holy Roman Empire.