Ponttor

The Ponttor in Aachen, sometimes ( 17-18. Century) also called bridge gate or thor, is the western of the two northern gates of the outer Aachen city wall, the eastern North Gate was the Sandkaultor or Sandtor, a seven-storey rectangular gate tower with round edge turrets (2 stories) and an equally high Doppelturmvortor with rectangular towers. In addition to the Marschiertor in the south is the Ponttor one of the two still preserved of the former eleven gates - Albrechts- or A (da) lberttor ( East Gate ) Mountain Gate ( North Gate ), ( St. ) Jakobstor ( Südwesttor ) Junkerstor, Aristocratic or Vaalser Tor ( Westsüdwesttor ), Cologne ( Steam ) tor ( Ostnordosttor ), King's Gate ( West Gate ), Berseter or Marschiertor ( South Gate ), Roors or Rosentor ( Südsüdwesttor ), Bridges or Ponttor ( Nordnordwesttor ), sand ( kaul ) tor ( Nordnordosttor ), Wingartz Bongart, Wirichsbongardtor or Weinbergstor ( Südosttor ) - the former free imperial city of Aachen, which were guarded by the soldiers Freihen Empire urban City and town militias. It was built around the beginning of the 14th century, when new settlements and churches outside the old city walls required a second fortification. Today it is used by the German church youth Aachen- dj.1.11 and scout groups of the German Scout Federation and the German Scout Association of Saint George.

Nature

The Ponttor consists of a rectangular three-story Torburg. In high main portal both a portcullis and a pitch eaves are present. A bridge crossing with battlements ( Torzwinger ), which was at that time over the moat, is technically still fortified by a front gate with two towers reinforced ( Barbican ). The building material consists of Upper Devonian Condroz sandstones, Upper Carboniferous coal sandstones and Tertiary quartzites, the orders are made ​​primarily of lighter blue stone.

Explanation of the name

While it is so that Aachen is crossed by numerous rivers and streams, but not near the Ponttors, though the name certainly to the Latin " pons " - reminds bridge. In fact, the district and only then the streets were named in Aachen first. The name of the Ponttors therefore comes from the fact that it is in Pontviertel. This neighborhood takes its name from a bridge. In Roman times the city wall was where now stands the Annuntiatenbach. At the point where you could leave the city in a northerly direction, extensive swamps, which could be crossed by a bridge were. The later built in this area buildings were then called Pontviertel because they were beyond the bridge, bringing the name of the gate explained.

Field side (north)

View from the east

Bailey, View from the East

Little wall in the southeast, overlooking the city side

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