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Martin's Gate

Martin's Gate

Highlight • Monument

Martin's Gate

Recommended by 1405 hikers out of 1452

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Location: Freiburg District, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

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Best Hikes to Martin's Gate

4.8

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1. Schwabentor (Swabian Gate) – Rosskopf Tower loop from Freiburg (Breisgau) Hauptbahnhof

15.6km

04:42

490m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.7

(86)

452

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2. Freiburg Minster – Schwabentor (Swabian Gate) loop from Freiburg (Breisgau) Hauptbahnhof

12.3km

03:54

480m

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Moderate

4.7

(169)

1,004

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3. Freiburg Minster – View of Freiburg Minster loop from Freiburg (Breisgau) Hauptbahnhof

6.92km

01:57

130m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Paul

March 21, 2024

Martinstor, Freiburg im Breisgau
"It would be an unparalleled lack of respect if one wanted to lay hands on this venerable, stately witness to Freiburg's oldest history and tear it down. [...]" said Mayor Otto Winterer shortly after taking office in 1888.
At that time, in view of the plans for an electric tram, some citizens and business people called for the demolition of the Schwabentor and the Martinstor. The two medieval Freiburg city gates, two of what were once five defensive towers, had survived all wars and were seen by critics as an obstacle to modern transport development.
Winterer, however, saw things differently. To emphasise the importance of the two historic towers from the 13th century and because "a village has roofs and a city has towers", Winterer literally "went one step further". Instead of tearing down the Martinstor, it was raised almost three times its height, from 22 to 63 metres. It was also given a roof structure in the historicising style of the 15th century. Century and a larger passage for the tram. This also calmed down its critics.
Like the other four towers, the Martinstor was integrated flush into the city wall and connected to the battlement. On the outside of the city there was a massive forecourt as an additional defense system and a bridge over the 12 meter wide and five meter deep moat. On the east side you can still see the opening of the battlement at a height of about six meters.
On the inside of the Martinstor there is a memorial plaque commemorating the victims of the witch hunts. The three council widows Anna Wohlffartin, Catharina Stadelmennin and Margaretha Mößmerin were beheaded and burned during the first wave of persecution from 1599 and therefore represent all victims from the 16th and 17th centuries. Although the Martinstor was chosen as the location for this memorial plaque, it was not witches who were imprisoned here, but mostly debtors. That is why it was said at the time that the Martin's cloak had been hung around their necks.
Text / Source: City of Freiburg, Rathausplatz 2-4, 79098 Freiburg
visit.freiburg.de/attraktionen/martinstor

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Petra

July 17, 2024

The Martinstor is a well-preserved city gate of the former city fortifications. Originally there were 5 gates. In addition to the Martinstor, there is also the Schwabentor. Both are wonderful photo subjects!

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〽️Markus

March 19, 2017

The Martinstor (in the Middle Ages also Norsinger Tor) in the Kaiser-Joseph-Straße is in comparison to the Schwabentor the older of the two still preserved gate towers of the medieval town fortification of Freiburg.

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Elevation 290 m

Weather

Thursday 18 December

13°C

4°C

12 %

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Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

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Location: Freiburg District, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

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Martin's Gate

1. Schwabentor (Swabian Gate) – Rosskopf Tower loop from Freiburg (Breisgau) Hauptbahnhof

2. Freiburg Minster – Schwabentor (Swabian Gate) loop from Freiburg (Breisgau) Hauptbahnhof

3. Freiburg Minster – View of Freiburg Minster loop from Freiburg (Breisgau) Hauptbahnhof

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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