Burgtor, Medieval city gate in Lübeck, Germany.
The Burgtor is a late Gothic gate of dark red brick, built in 1444 by city master builder Nicolas Peck. Its square tower carries a Baroque helmet-like roof added in 1685, with tall arched windows below and three round-arched passages at ground level, the middle one wider; a smaller pointed arch sits to the far right. Lower brick wings extend to both sides.
Built in 1444 by city master builder Nicolas Peck, the gate replaced a Romanesque predecessor on the only land route into Lübeck's centre. It was the inner of three successive gates; the middle one, the Batardeau, was nicknamed "Bär". In 1806 French troops forced their way through it at the Battle of Lübeck, and a plaque in the easternmost passage recalls this.
The gate is part of Lübeck's UNESCO World Heritage site and shows the architectural achievements from the Hanseatic period. It marks the entrance to the old city at its northern edge and visitors often pass through it to enter this historic district.
The gate stands at the northern edge of the Old City and serves as a natural landmark for visitors exploring the historic center. The area around it is easily accessible on foot and connects well with other nearby attractions.
In 1806 French troops entered Lübeck through this gate during the Battle of Lübeck; a plain plaque in the easternmost passage recalls this and the French occupation that followed. A second plaque on a side tower commemorates Carl Hans Lody, a German spy executed in London in the First World War.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,816 contributors worldwide.
