Holsten Gate

The Holsten Gate (Low German and German: Holstentor) is a city gate that marks the western edge of the old center of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. Built in 1464, this impressive building is made in the style called Brick Gothic and is one of the few remaining parts of Lübeck's old medieval fortifications. It has two round towers and a big arched entrance.

Today, the Holsten Gate is a special symbol of Lübeck. It is one of only two city gates left in the city, the other being the Citadel Gate (Burgtor). Because of its history and beauty, the Holsten Gate, along with Lübeck's old city center (Altstadt), was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Appearance

The Holsten Gate has a south tower, a north tower, and a central building. It has four floors, with the main entrance on the ground floor of the central block. The side facing away from the city is called the "field side", and the side facing the city is called the "city side". The two towers and the central block look like one building when viewed from the city side, but from the field side, you can see the three parts more clearly. The towers have cone-shaped roofs, and the central block has a special top design called a pediment.

There are interesting details and designs on the gate. On the inside, near the entrance, there are special markings with the letters "SPQL" between the years 1477 and 1871. These markings were added in 1871 and are inspired by ancient Roman designs. On the outside, there is a message that means "harmony within, peace outside". The gate is made of red bricks and has special decorations made of a material called terracotta, with different patterns like lilies and thistle leaves.

History

The city of Lübeck needed strong walls and gates to stay safe. Three gates let people into the city: the Citadel Gate in the north, Mill Gate in the south, and the Holsten Gate in the west. The Wakenitz River protected the east, with the Hüxter Gate leading out.

Over time, these gates were made stronger. Today, only parts of the old gates are left. The Citadel Gate we see now was once the Inner Citadel Gate; its middle and outer parts are gone. All three Mill Gates have disappeared. The Holsten Gate we know today was once the Middle Holsten Gate. There were also an Inner Holsten Gate, an Outer Holsten Gate, and a Second Outer Holsten Gate. So the story of the Holsten Gate is about four different gates, even though only one remains today.

The oldest Holsten Gate protected the banks of the Trave River. People passed through this gate to reach the Holsten Bridge, which crossed the river. The Holsten Bridge was first mentioned in a document from 1216 signed by the king of Denmark, and there was likely a gate and city wall there at that time.

In the 15th century, the city wanted stronger gates because of new weapons like cannons. They built another gate, called the Outer Holsten Gate, later known as the Middle Holsten Gate. Building started in 1464 and finished in 1478. It was built on a hill made just for this. During building, the ground was unstable, making one tower lean.

The Outer Holsten Gate, also called the Renaissance Gate, was built in the 16th century. It was beautifully decorated on the outside but plain on the city side. This gate was torn down in 1853 to make way for a train station.

A fourth Holsten Gate was built in 1621 but was demolished in 1808.

In the 19th century, many old city walls and gates were removed as the city grew. In 1855, people in Lübeck asked to remove the Middle Holsten Gate to make space for railways, but in 1863, they decided to save and restore it instead. The gate had been sinking into the ground and was in danger of falling down. After careful work, it was saved.

Restoration work happened again in 1933-34 and then in 2005-2006, fixing the leaning towers and preserving this important symbol of Lübeck.

The Holsten Gate today

In 1950, the Holsten Gate became a museum showing the city's history. Visitors could see old models and pictures that told the story of medieval Lübeck, including ships from a group of trading cities called the Hanseatic League.

In 2002, the museum was updated with new rooms and better ways to share its stories using images and sounds. Since 2006, a special group has taken care of the museum.

Surroundings

The Holsten Gate is in the Lübeck city wall area. It is on the main road that connects the main train station to the St. Lorenz area and passes over the Puppen Bridge. Holsten Gate Square is next to part of the Deutsche Bundesbank. Across from it is a building called the Holsten Gate Hall, which is between old salt warehouses and a building for trade unions. This hall was updated with money from the Possehl Foundation to be used by Lübeck's University of Music. In spring 2007, a new pedestrian bridge was built over the Upper Trave River to link to the university’s main buildings in the old city center.

Miscellaneous

The Holsten Gate has appeared on money and stamps. It has been on German banknotes, coins, and special stamps about important places.

The gate is also in some video games, like The Patrician and SimCity 3000.

The Holsten Gate has inspired other designs. Since 1926, a styled version of the gate has been in the emblem for the German Association of Cities. A smaller copy of the gate was built in 2008 for a theme park named Hansa Park. In 2018, someone set a Guinness World Record by running a marathon wearing a Holstentor costume at the Berlin Marathon. The Amphicar, a special car from the 1960s that could drive on water, has a golden image of the Holstentor on its steering wheel.