The water towers at the Red Gate in Augsburg are a significant example of historic engineering and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Augsburg Water Management System". They are part of one of the oldest water supply systems in Central Europe and played a central role in the city's drinking water supply. The water towers at the Red Gate consist of three towers:
1. The Small Water Tower (built around 1416): The oldest of the three towers and one of the earliest water towers in Augsburg. It served as the first drinking water supply and used water from the Lech canals, which was pumped into the tower by water wheels.
2. The Large Water Tower (built around 1470): This tower increased the capacity of the drinking water supply and is known for its imposing architecture. It housed cisterns and was used to transport water to the higher parts of the city.
3. The Box Tower (16th century): Originally built as a storage room and water reservoir, it supported the system of the other towers. The Kastenturm shows the progress in water supply technology of that time.
The water towers at the Rotes Tor are part of a sophisticated system that included canals, wells, pumps and water wheels and supplied Augsburg with clean water for centuries. Today, the towers are a popular destination for visitors and an impressive testimony to early water technology, documenting the innovative power of the city of Augsburg.