The Holsten gate is on the edge of the city to the west. It is the only
preserved gate of the old city wall beside the Castle gate (Burgtor).
There were two more gates which were called Huextertor (Huexter gate) and Muehlentor (Mill gate) but only miniatures
in showcases give you the impression of their appearence before they were pulled down.
On the outher side of the Holsten gate is an epigraph S.P.Q.L. which is Latin and means: "Senatus
populusque Lubecenensis - Senate and Folk Luebeck". The gate was used to defend the city, and that
purpose diverse crenels are integrated in the walls. The Holstengate has four
floors, a bridging passage from one tower to the other forms the middle part. Today, the
Holstengate is used as a museum for the history of the city and it is the trademark
of the city Luebeck. The Holstengate was printed on the 50 DM note and today you can
find it on a limited 2 € coin. The Holstengate is a frequently photographed building and is the mark
of Luebeck´s traditional marzipan store Niederegger.
On the side of the Holsten gate facing away from the city and overlooking a field, there is the
epigraph: "Concordia domi foris pax" - "unity inside, peace outside".
The wealthy Hanse town Luebeck was protected against threats
from outside by strong walls. Only three city gates allowed people to go in and out. The Castle gate or
Burgtor in the north, the Mill gate or Muehlentor in the south and the Holsten gate in the west.
In the east the dammed up River Wakenitz also was good protection.
The Luebeck Holsten gate got its name from the Holstein region to the west
of Luebeck. It is the only remaining gate of four at this place which protected the city to the
west. The three other Holsten gates at the same place have been replaced for industrial aeras,
like the first railway station in Luebeck.
The Holsten gate can still be seen today, and was built for extra protection between
the years 1464 and 1478. In these years, firearms are
everywhere and the old gate in the city wall could not give
enough protection. The walls of the new gate are 3.5 meters thick. The architectural
style is late Gothic. Thirty cannons were placed in the “middle gate” as a strong defense.
Today the lowest crenels for the cannons are underground. The Holsten gate
sank a few centimeters into the ground every year. Restorations between the years
1933/34 and 2005/06 finally secured the Holsten gate for posterity.
For 107 years, the “middle gate” was used as a citygate. In the year 1585,
a new gate was built just 20 meters in front of the old. This new gate was also supplemented in 1621
by the “second external gate”.