Matthiasturm, Medieval tower in Bautzen, Germany.
The Matthiasturm is the main gateway to Ortenburg castle, built as a solid stone structure with distinctive pointed arch windows. The tower forms an impressive entrance passage that emphasizes the castle complex's defensive design.
The tower was built between 1483 and 1486 as the main entry structure for the castle complex, originally accessed by a drawbridge across a surrounding moat. It remained the primary route into the fortress for centuries afterward.
The tower is named after Hungarian King Matthias Corvinus, whose relief portrait faces the city on the outer wall. This artwork reflects the site's connection to wider European royal circles and remains a recognizable feature today.
You can visit the tower interior only as part of guided tours, which provide detailed explanations of its structure and history. Check ahead for available tour times so you can plan your visit accordingly.
The second floor once held a chapel dedicated to Saint George, identifiable by two large Gothic windows, which stopped being used as a place of worship after a fire in 1639. Those windows remain visible today and tell the story of the tower's former spiritual function.
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