Sterntor

The Sterntor stands in Bonn’s old town, a small stone gateway moved from its original place in 1900. It once guarded the medieval city wall near the end of Sternstraße, built around 1244. The gate was the last survivor of Bonn’s defences until the 19th century, when traffic needs led to its demolition despite protests from Kaiser Wilhelm II. A few metres away, on the north side of Bottlerplatz beside Vivatsgasse, a new version was raised using fragments of the old gate and a surviving round tower from the wall. The rebuilt gate is a mix of original stones and later additions, topped with a turret and battlements that show its 19th-century style. Two carved reliefs are set into the outer arch: one shows Christ on the cross with Mary and John, the other depicts the Virgin of the Seven Sorrows from 1650. The whole structure is protected as a listed monument, standing as a reminder of Bonn’s past defences. Visitors find the Sterntor beside a quiet square where the old city wall still runs. The gate’s position links the pedestrian lanes of Sternstraße and Vivatsgasse, making it easy to pass under its arch. Nearby, the round tower rises from the surviving stretch of wall, offering a glimpse of how the fortifications once enclosed the town. In 2002 the gate was lit by an art installation called ‘Lichtblicke’, adding colour to the stonework at night.