Neutor (Arnstadt)

The Neutor stands in the southern part of Arnstadt’s medieval centre in Thüringen. Built into the town wall in the early 15th century, it was added when the defences were enlarged. In 1448 the octagonal upper storey and pointed spire were completed, and in 1789 a gilded finial crowned the summit. The tower once housed a fire-watcher whose bell warned of blazes until the 19th century. During the Second World War the bell was melted down. Today only two of Arnstadt’s original gates remain, and the Neutor is protected as a cultural monument. Visitors find the massive stone gate flanked by the surviving town wall. The tower’s charred timbers were cleared after the 2024 fire, and a temporary roof now shelters the structure. Restoration work continues, with plans to rebuild the burnt spire from 2025.