Karlstor, Medieval gate in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Karlstor is a stone gate in St. Gallen with crenellated parapets, the last remaining of eight original fortification entrances. It shows typical Renaissance features and forms part of the city's central landscape today.
The gate was built in 1570 as part of the city's defense system. It was named after Cardinal Karl Borromäus, who passed through it upon arrival and marked an important moment in the city's story.
The gate shows how people in St. Gallen once protected their city and managed who could enter. Today it stands as a reminder of how the city once worked, visible in the middle of modern St. Gallen.
The gate is located in the center of St. Gallen and is easy to reach by public transport. Pedestrians can walk directly to it and explore it from several sides.
This gate is the only surviving remnant of the complete fortification system that once surrounded St. Gallen. This fact makes it a valuable witness to how the city was once defended.
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