Schnallentor

The Schnallentor stands in Steyr, Upper Austria, as part of the old town fortifications built in the first half of the 16th century. It once served as a toll gate where carts entering the city paid paving dues, earning its name from the old coin called a ‘Schnalle’. The building’s upper floor still shows small gun slits, though its military role was minor. After the city walls were demolished in 1857, plans to tear down the gate were twice rejected, partly because it housed flats. Major repairs in 1894 restored its original appearance, including the sgraffito decoration dated 1613. The gate’s sgraffito patterns resemble those on the Innerberger Stadel, adding to its historic character. In 2013 a lorry struck the northern side, damaging the brick vault and forcing a temporary closure. A full renovation followed in 2018, repairing the facade and vault after earlier foundation work in 2017. The surrounding footpath was laid in 1973, linking the area to the rest of the town. Visitors find a compact stone gate with two storeys and a small courtyard beside it. The upper floor’s sgraffiti show figures and patterns in shades of grey, while the lower level forms an arched passage for pedestrians. The Gleinkergasse slopes up past the gate, still called the Schnallenberg by locals. Nearby stand two other preserved town gates, the Neutor and the Kollertor, marking the old boundary of Steyr.