Neues Tor

The Neues Tor stands on the eastern side of Neubrandenburg’s medieval town wall. Built in North German brick Gothic style, it is the youngest of the four gates that once pierced the old defences. The gatehouse spans the park of the former ramparts, now crossed by a busy four-lane ring road. Its late arrival is clear from the date: work began only in the second half of the 15th century. The original complex included a main gate, a forward gate and an outer defensive wall. The outer wall was destroyed during Tilly’s siege in 1631, and the forward gate was pulled down in 1852 after it became unsafe. Eight terracotta figures line the city side of the main arch, their raised arms a silent greeting across the centuries. Visitors pass through the brick arch and find themselves on the Katharinenstraße leading into the Katharinenviertel. The figures above the arch remain a puzzle, their purpose and story lost to time. Nineteenth-century restorers added decorative touches to match the tastes of their day. The gate now links the old wall park with the modern ring road, a quiet witness to five hundred years of change.