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Ponttor boasts some remarkable architectural features characteristic for medieval military architecture. Built mostly out of local blue limestone and sandstone blocks, it comprises twin towers standing at approximately 25 meters high flanking either side with an arched gateway running between them.
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times, a fortification existed on what is today known as the
Annuntiaten stream. Beyond this area lay extensive swamps, and to exit the settlement, one would have to cross a bridge. Later settlements that were built in the area beyond the fortification were said to be beyond the bridge, and from
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Though it is true that Aachen has many rivers and streams that pass through it, none are in the vicinity of the
Ponttor, the name for which is assumed to come from the Latin word "pons", meaning bridge. However, before the gate was named, the area of the city (as well as the area's main street)
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The interior consists mainly of three levels including vaulted halls on each level within both towers. Each tower has loopholes allowing defenders to launch projectiles at attackers while staying protected behind thick stone walls.
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Above the archway are machicolations – openings through which hot oil or rocks could be dropped onto enemies attempting to breach the gate below – adding another layer to this formidable defense system.
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already carried this appellation, and thus the city gate is simply named for the area around it. The neighborhood received the name because of a bridge, as during
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of the original city wall of Aachen (the other being the
Marschiertor). The westernmost of the north-facing gates (the other being the
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Atop sits battlements providing further protection for soldiers patrolling along wall-walks linking towers together.
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The
Ponttor was constructed as a right-angled three-stock tower castle. In the main entrance, there is a
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Roland Walter: Aachener
Georouten. Grenzecho-Verlag, 2011, Eupen, S. 130-132,
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299:"Ponttor (Aix-la-Chapelle) - Everything you need to know in 2024"
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and was strengthened in the foregate with two reinforced towers (
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Informative article on the history and interior of the
Ponttor
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this, the area, street, and city gate all got their names.
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groups belonging to the German Scout Club (1945) and the
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Buildings and structures completed in the 14th century
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era. Today, the
Ponttor is used by German Youth and
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234:Die große Aachener Stadtmauer mit Toren und Türmen
220:approach along the former wall in the south east
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82:German Scout Association Saint George
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258:. Aachen: Verlag von Anton Creutzer.
380:Buildings and structures in Aachen
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208:Forecastle, view from the east
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74:Free Imperial City of Aachen
262:Online-Version, pdf, 6.61MB
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236:. Aachen: Helios Verlag.
123:carbonite sandstone and
28:View inside the foregate
184:Outer city side (north)
172:Inner city side (south)
150:Explanation of the name
346:50.7815278°N 6.07833°E
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20:Ponttor with foregate
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385:Landmarks in Germany
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196:View from the east
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303:. Retrieved
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226:Works cited
70:Sandkaultor
62:Brückenthor
364:Categories
337:06°04′42″E
305:2024-06-14
269:References
104:spanned a
94:Portcullis
36:Statue of
129:bluestone
125:quartzite
117:sandstone
110:barbicans
88:Structure
254:(1894).
252:C. Rhoen
114:Devonian
54:Germany
46:Ponttor
375:Aachen
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50:Aachen
78:Scout
66:gates
283:ISBN
238:ISBN
106:moat
44:The
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