The Graach Gate (
German: ''Graacher Tor'') is the last remaining
town gate of the
German town of
Bernkastel-Kues. The name ''Graach'' refers to the neighbouring village of
Graach connected by a narrow road to the gate. Currently the building is used as a
museum of local history.
History of the city gate
The Graach gate was built in 1300 as part of a
town wall protecting the town of Bernkastel against foreign aggression. In 1689 it was partly destroyed by
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
troops under
Louis XIV of France.
At the beginning of the 18th century the gate was reconstructed and from 1714 was used as a
prison. Later on it became a hostel for the homeless.
Since 2002 the gate has been a museum of local history.
Architecture
The gate has an integrated passage built in a
Baroque
The Baroque (, ; ) is a style of architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished in Europe from the early 17th century until the 1750s. In the territories of the Spanish and Portuguese empires including t ...
style with a
mansard roof
A mansard or mansard roof (also called a French roof or curb roof) is a four-sided gambrel-style hip roof characterised by two slopes on each of its sides, with the lower slope, punctured by dormer windows, at a steeper angle than the upper. The ...
created in the 18th century. Before destruction in 1689 the Graach gate, shown in a drawing dated 1590, was equipped with a tower reaching three times the size of the current building.
After reconstruction in the 18th century the gate shows typical elements of a
Renaissance-style building.
A figure of the Archangel
St. Michael
Michael (; he, מִיכָאֵל, lit=Who is like El od, translit=Mīḵāʾēl; el, Μιχαήλ, translit=Mikhaḗl; la, Michahel; ar, ميخائيل ، مِيكَالَ ، ميكائيل, translit=Mīkāʾīl, Mīkāl, Mīkhāʾīl), also ...
is placed centrally over the passage protecting the inhabitants of Bernkastel from aggression by intruders. The figure is a copy while the original is exhibited in the museum of the
Catholic Diocese of
Trier.
External links
Bernkastel-Kues / Bernkastel Graacher Tor (1)
{{coord, 49, 54, 58, N, 7, 04, 34, E, region:DE-RP_type:landmark_source:kolossus-dewiki, display=title
Buildings and structures completed in 1300
Gates in Germany
Buildings and structures in Bernkastel-Wittlich
Landmarks in Germany