Karlstor Heidelberg

The triumphal arch in honor of the Elector Karl Theodor at the eastern end of the city was built between 1775 and 1781 according to plans by Nicolas de Pigage. At the laying of the foundation stone on October 2, 1775, the elector appeared in person. He was also the one who led the architect to combine elements from three submitted designs into a fourth plan. The result is a classical building in the tradition of Roman Siegestore crowned by four Palatinate lions. In the middle part, the portraits of the Elector and his wife can be seen on the western side of the city under the princely hat. Outwardly the midfield carries the dedication inscription and above it a weapon trophy with the Kurpfälzer coat of arms. The sculptures were created by Peter Simon Lamine. The gate was never completely completed.

The Karlstor (built 1775-1781) is located in the east of Heidelberg and guarded the traffic that came to the city from Neckargemünd. Today there is the Karlstorbahnhof with S-Bahn connection (station: HD-Altstadt) and a large cultural program.

Karlstor (Carl's Gate)
The triumphal arch in honor of Elector Carl Theodor in the east of Heidelberg was built between 1775 and 1781 and designed by Nicolas de Pigage. When the cornerstone was laid on October 2, 1775, the Elector personally attended the celebration. Taking a personal interest in the construction work, he had the architect draw a new plan that eventually unified the elements of the previous three sketches. The end result was a neoclassical building in the tradition of Roman triumphal arches, crowned by four lions, the traditional symbols of the Palatinate.

Portraits of the elector and his wife are located under the princely hat in the center of the top, facing the city from the west. The center piece, which points beyond Heidelberg, contains a written dedication crowned by a weapon trophy with the Kurpfalz coat of arms. The sculptures were created by Peter Simon Lamine. The triumphal arch was never fully completed.

See heidelberg-marketing.de/en/experience/sights/historical-buildings/karlstor.html