Martinstor

The St. Martin's ( in the Middle Ages also Norsinger gate) in the Kaiser- Joseph-Straße is compared to Schwabentor the older of the two gate towers of the medieval fortifications of Freiburg im Breisgau still preserved.

History

Dated by dendrochronological studies of the wooden beams to the year 1202, the gate was first mentioned in 1238 as " Porta Sancti Martini". The floor area is 10 to 11 meters. The wall thickness to south is below 3.10 m and 2.70 m on the upper floor; the side walls are a bit weaker.

Over the centuries it was modified several times; temporarily, it served as a prison, whose inmates were told that they had them " slung the Martin coat".

Since the 17th century the city side was adorned with a picture of St. Martin. The connection to the suburbs lost St. Martin's at this time by the fortress and the leveling of the suburbs by Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban. Now the salt road served as a driveway from the valleys.

The Martin portrait was renewed several times, most recently in 1851 by Wilhelm Dürr. In 1968/69 it was removed. So far, the Freiburg city council could not decide on a new representation, so that over a still existing font plaque commemorating the struggles of the citizens of Freiburg defense against French revolutionary troops an empty space is seen.

Until the end of the 19th century St. Martin's remained largely unchanged. While parts of the citizenship traffic reasons now called for the demolition of two city gates still preserved, the Lord Mayor Otto Winterer began efforts to maintain them and to design. In June 1896, a competition began among German architects to select a design for the design of Martins and Schwabentor. Although private home on the west side of the gate had to be maintained, but should be given a drive-through on the ground floor. To the east of the previously detached gate could be connected to the neighboring house. In addition Winterer Josef Durm, Carl Schaefer, Max Meckel and a member of the City Council acted as judges. However, none of the competition entries was implemented. Instead, the city administration and Meckel Shepherd asked for offers, as the program's conditions had changed. Thus, the construction of the electric tram in Freiburg in 1899 was decided, what the reset of private houses demanded that bordered on the two towers. Shepherd suggested an increase in the Martinstors from 22 to 66 meters, while Schwabentors from 26 to 65 meters. He cited the now higher houses in the area. His design combined the existing components from the early 13th century late Gothic building from the 15th century. In the summer of 1901 the reconstruction by architect Eugen Schmidt Freiburg was performed. On August 28, 1901 Topping-out ceremony was celebrated before they were completed on October 14 with light rail transit system in two city gates. The design commissioned in April 1902 in Schafer to overbuilding of pedestrian path on the east side of the gate put this completed in May 1902. The planned development by two massive floors and a third that you are running on the north side as a truss structure, but it should appear solid on the south side, but was not implemented. The reason for this probably was the refusal by the owner of the adjoining house. Also from Shepherd comes the four-part complex of houses Kaiser- Joseph-Straße 250-256, which he had run four stories, with the previous buildings had a floor less.

Near the gate was a gateway, also built in historic style, with a second larger passage. The Toraußenseite was adorned with a painted German imperial eagle on the coat of arms of Freiburg and Baden. This painting was removed in 1951. Later, the replica of a baroque sandstone slab with the double-headed eagle of the Holy Roman Empire was mounted above the archway.

Presence

On the downtown side is next to the arch is a writing tablet in memory of the burning of witches in Freiburg. Representatives mention are the three Freiburg citizens Marghareta Mößmer, Catharina Stadelmann and Anna Wolffart that were executed in 1599.

On the west adjoining the conversion in 1901 attached gatehouse there is a fast food restaurant McDonald's, which indicates above the archway; However, the city council of Freiburg was able to prevent the attachment of the red -and-yellow logo of the restaurant chain.

In the small alley at the gate, the Martinsgässle, located next to the entrance to the Freiburg Market Hall Theatre at St. Martin's (TAM ) and the Martinsbräu.

The model railroad equipment manufacturers Faller offers a kit model of the Martinstors for nominal variables H0 and N.

Currently, it is discussed whether an image on the St. Martin's back is to be mounted. In addition to the St. Martin St. Simon Göser representations of Martin Luther King and Joss Fritz are under discussion. The council decided to draw up a draft resolution on the establishment of an art commission, should be decided on in the second half of 2013 in May 2013. The art committee that constantly exist and to decide not only in this case, could not be established because of the clarification of fundamental questions in 2013. The decision in principle to set up should be done in May 2014 before the election of the city council, the appointment of the members is then carried out by the local council then selected.