Built in 1393, these are the last remaining medieval city gates in the historic city of Xanten, on the banks of the River Rhine. They’re so well-built that a demolition attempt in the 19th century failed to raze them.

Top Places in Germany

Cuxhaven, Germany

Site of operation Backfire

WWII rocket launchpad in rural Germany and site of operation backfire.

53.8141, 8.6627

Added by Alpha

Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Corpus Christi Procession

Celebrating the Eucharist, the day is a legal holiday in many parts of Germany.

47.4923, 11.0859

Added by spinkk

Stuttgart, Germany

The Pig Museum

An old slaughterhouse now holds the largest collection of pig artifacts.

48.7857, 9.2196

Added by boldra

See more things to do in Germany »

The two towers were built by the cities of Kleve and Cologne, which shared administrative responsibility for Xanten in the 14th century. They were once joined together by a bridge over the city’s since-filled in defensive moat.

The coats of arms of these cities are still borne on the outer “Owl Towers” of the defensive complex. This pair of round, cone-topped turrets got their avian name after several centuries of disrepair left them a favored haunt for the screeching nocturnal birds. For any would-be attackers getting past this barbican, a second, castle-like fortified tower straddling the roadway offered a final defensive deterrent.

By the 19th century, the European fashion for fortified city gates was over, and the structures were considered obsolete relics, fit only for destruction. However, the task of removing the well-built towers proved impossible with the tools available. After defying demolition, the gate’s fortifications were restored and used variously as a prison, museum, local office of the “Hitler Youth” movement, and accommodation for archaeologists working on the Roman ruins located in Xanten Archaeological Park.

Today, the beautiful city gates are an impressive welcome to this small cathedral city. Xanten’s tourist bureau, located a short walk away, has converted the innermost bastion into three comfortable tourist apartments for tower lovers and fairytale-fantasists to stay in.