Johannistor

The Johannistor is a gate tower in Jena with a square floor plan and a total height of about 32 meters, topped with a pointed roof. The structure features narrow window openings and was built to control the city gate and provide protection.

The structure was built in the early 14th century as part of the city fortifications and was rebuilt in the 15th century with Gothic style additions. This redesign gave the tower its distinctive form that visitors still see today.

The tower was a key post for night watchmen who protected the city from fires and kept watch over the streets. Visitors can still sense how central this duty was to life in the medieval town.

The climb to the upper levels involves steep stairs and ladders that require physical fitness. Light enters only through narrow slits, so the interior spaces are dimly lit and the stairs can be challenging to navigate.

Inside the vault above the passageway is a small opening that originally served as a loophole for defense. This hidden detail shows how carefully the medieval structure was designed for military purposes.