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 structure is made in the style called Brick Gothic and is one of the few remaining parts of Lübeck's old medieval fortifications. It stands out with its two round towers and a big arched entrance.

Today, the Holsten Gate is seen as 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 has different designs on each side because it was built to be strong and ready for defense. Some parts were made to pour hot liquid on attackers, and there are small openings for shooting. 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 rich Hanseatic city of Lübeck needed strong walls and gates to protect itself from outside threats. Three gates allowed entry to the city: the Citadel Gate in the north, Mill Gate in the south, and the Holsten Gate in the west. To the east, the dammed Wakenitz River provided protection, with the Hüxter Gate leading out.

Originally, these gates were simple but were strengthened over time. Today, only pieces of these old gates remain. The Citadel Gate we see today is what was once the Inner Citadel Gate; the middle and outer parts no longer exist. All three Mill Gates have disappeared completely. 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 history of the Holsten Gate is really the history of four different gates, even though only one remains today.

The oldest Holsten Gate protected the banks of the Trave River. People had to pass 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 it’s likely there was already a gate and city wall there at that time.

In the 15th century, the city felt the need for stronger gates because of new weapons like cannons. They built another gate, called the Outer Holsten Gate, later known as the Middle Holsten Gate. Construction began in 1464 and was finished in 1478. It was built on a hill raised just for this purpose. During building, the ground proved unstable, causing one tower to lean.

The Outer Holsten Gate, also called the Renaissance Gate, was built in the 16th century. It was decorated beautifully 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 finally, 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 history of the city. Visitors could see old models and pictures that helped tell 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 found in the Lübeck city wall area. It sits on the main road that links the main train station to the St. Lorenz area and goes over the Puppen Bridge. Holsten Gate Square is next to a part of the Deutsche Bundesbank. On the other side, there is a building called the Holsten Gate Hall between old salt warehouses and a building for trade unions. This hall was changed with money from the Possehl Foundation to be used by Lübeck's University of Music. In spring 2007, a new pedestrian bridge was finished over the Upper Trave River to connect to the university’s main buildings in the old city center.

Miscellaneous

The Holsten Gate has been featured on money and stamps over the years. It appeared on German banknotes and coins, as well as on special stamps highlighting important places.

The gate has also been included in some video games, like The Patrician and SimCity 3000.

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