A gate tower (german: Torturm) is a
tower built over or next to a major
gate
A gate or gateway is a point of entry to or from a space enclosed by walls. The word derived from old Norse "gat" meaning road or path; But other terms include ''yett and port''. The concept originally referred to the gap or hole in the wall ...
way.
Usually it is part of a medieval
fortification. This may be a
town or city wall,
fortress
A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
,
castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by military orders. Scholars debate the scope of the word ''castle'', but usually consider it to be the private fortified r ...
or
castle chapel
Castle chapels (german: Burgkapellen) in European architecture are chapels that were built within a castle. They fulfilled the religious requirements of the castle lord and his retinue, while also sometimes serving as a burial site. Because the ...
. The gate tower may be built as a
twin tower on either side of an entranceway. Even in the design of modern building complexes, gate towers may be constructed symbolically as a main entrance. The gate tower can also stand as a twin tower on both sides of a gate system. Gate towers are also used symbolically as the main entrance in the design of modern building complexes. The
Kasselburg
The Kasselburg is a ruined hill castle on a 490-metre-high basalt massif in Pelm near Gerolstein in the county of Vulkaneifel in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate.
Description
The symbol of the Kasselburg is its 37-metre-high, double ...
in
Rhineland-Palatinate has a double tower gate tower, which was also used as a residential tower.
Gallery
Image:Linzertor3.JPG, The Linz Gate in Freistadt
Freistadt (, literally "Freetown") is a small Austrian town in the state of Upper Austria in the region Mühlviertel. With a population of approximately 7,500 residents, it is a trade centre for local villages. Freistadt is the economic centre of ...
, Austria
Image:Remplin Torturm.JPG, Remplin
Remplin is a village and a former municipality in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Since 7 June 2009, it is part of the municipality Malchin.
Palace Complex
The town includes the remains of a once lar ...
gate tower, Germany
Image:Russia-Vladimir-Golden Gate-2.jpg, Golden Gate at Vladimir, Russia
Image:Zytglogge 01.jpg, Bern Zytglogge, Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
Image:Leutschau - polska brana.jpg, Polish Gate in Levoča, Slovakia
File:Egremont IMG 1323 - panoramio.jpg, The late 12th-century gate tower of Egremont Castle
Egremont Castle is located in the town of Egremont, Cumbria ().
History
The original castle was built on a mound above the River Ehen on the site of a Danish fort following the conquest of Cumberland in 1092 by William II of England. The pres ...
, Cumbria, England
See also
*
Tower
*
Gate
A gate or gateway is a point of entry to or from a space enclosed by walls. The word derived from old Norse "gat" meaning road or path; But other terms include ''yett and port''. The concept originally referred to the gap or hole in the wall ...
*
Gatehouse
*
City gate
A city gate is a gate which is, or was, set within a city wall. It is a type of fortified gateway.
Uses
City gates were traditionally built to provide a point of controlled access to and departure from a walled city for people, vehicles, goods ...
*
Triumphal arch
*
Fortified gateway
References
External links
Fortified towers by type
Types of gates
Castle architecture
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