Old Gate, Medieval city tower in Speyer, Germany
The Old Gate, also known as the Altpörtel, is a medieval city gate and tower at the southern edge of Speyer's old town in Germany. It stands at the end of Maximilianstraße and has clock dials on its outer walls that are visible from a distance.
Construction of the Altpörtel started in the 13th century on the remains of an older fortification, and the upper sections were finished in the early 1500s. The different building phases are still readable in the masonry, which changes in style from bottom to top.
The Altpörtel marks the far end of Maximilianstraße, the long straight road that connects the cathedral to the southern gate. Walking this street today still follows the same route that imperial processions once took through the city.
Guided tours of the interior and upper levels are organized by the local tourist office, so it is worth checking availability before arriving. The climb rewards visitors with a broad view over the rooftops of the old town.
An iron bar is still embedded in the wall of the northern passage inside the tower, where it once served as the official standard for measuring cloth and goods sold in the city. Merchants used it to settle disputes over measurements well into the early 1800s.
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