Holsten Gate
Holsten Gate
The Holsten Gate (“Holstein-Tor”) is probably Germany’s best known and most distinguished town gate from the late Middle Ages. It was constructed between 1464 and 1478 by Hinrich Helmstede, the town council’s master builder, as part of the modernisation scheme for the fortifications on the banks of the river Trave. Once upon a time it was like a bridgehead outside the town. It housed 30 cannons, although no shot was ever fired from them.
The Holsten Gate, with its 3.5 metre thick walls, has an exciting history. It was constructed on a gridiron, probably on a pile foundation. However, the ground was unable to withstand the enormous load. The South Tower had already started to subside during the construction phase, and as a result the Gate leaned to the west. An attempt was made to offset this slant by adjusting the alignment of the upper storeys. The ground increasingly gave way over the following centuries. Today some of the lowest embrasures are more than half a metre below ground level.
The Holsten Gate was completely restored between 1863 and 1871 – although historical accuracy was not always ensured. Further radical conservation measures were carried out in 1931/33, when the building was reinforced with steel anchors, iron rings around the towers and tie rods in the walls, and has stood safely ever since.
Today the silhouette of Lübeck’s Holsten Gate is famous throughout the world. It became the emblem of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck, the Association of German Cities and Towns chose it as their logo, marzipan manufacturers and other businesses from Lübeck use it as a trademark. Many different postage stamps feature an image of the Holsten Gate, and - last but not least – it was depicted on the 50 Mark notes of the Deutsche Bundesbank from 1958 to 1991. Since 1950 the Holsten Gate houses the City’s History Museum.