Frauentor, Medieval gate tower in Nuremberg, Germany
Frauentor is a gate tower on the southeastern edge of Nuremberg's old town, with a rounded stone structure and a passage running beneath it. Today it houses the Nuremberg Crafts Yard, where local artisans display and sell their handmade work.
The tower was built in 1388 as part of the city's defensive wall system and served as a checkpoint for travelers arriving from Regensburg. A major redesign in 1558 changed its appearance and added new passages to handle traffic more efficiently.
The tower's name comes from its proximity to the Poor Clare Convent, reflecting how religious institutions shaped medieval city design. Walking past it, you sense how convents and churches guided the layout of neighborhoods.
The tower sits directly across from the Central Railway Station, making it easy to spot when approaching the old town from the south. The walk from the station takes just a few minutes and naturally leads you toward the medieval streets beyond.
During the 1558 redesign, the tower gained a dual-passage system that separated pedestrian traffic from cart and wagon routes. This clever layout reflected how medieval cities needed to manage different types of movement through their walls.
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