Ponttor Gate - Pass to the Free City
The name of Ponttor Gate in Aachen means "Bridge Gates". Historians still cannot figure out where the name comes from. There was neither a river, nor water moat outside the city wall of Aachen. Where was the bridge? It is believed that most likely the ancient Roman settlement at this place had the word "pont" in its name.
Once Ponttor Gate was part of the defensive wall of the free city of Aachen. Only two gates - Ponttor and Marshirtor – have survived and reached our days. According to the chronicles, they were part of the city fortifications. Although Aachen was considered a privileged city, where emperors were crowned, there were people seeking the deprivation of the status of a free city. The fortress wall was built in 1320 against such manifestations of feudal freemen. Ponttor Gate also serves as a customs office. It charged fee for entry to Aachen.
There was a prison later, then a school in the former customs building with defense tower. Already in the twentieth century, it housed the city’s history museum, a youth hostel, and finally, in our time - the local Association of Scouts.
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