Glockengießerturm

The Glockengießerturm was a gate tower in Lübeck’s medieval defences. Built probably in the 13th century as part of the city wall, it first appears in records in 1459 when repairs were noted. The square tower stood on the Wakenitz riverbank just below Glockengießerstraße, its single arch giving access to the water rather than to a road. No remains survive today; the tower was demolished in 1857.

Its name recalls the bell founders who worked along the riverbank, casting bells for churches across northern Germany. The site lay close to the old foundries where molten metal was carried straight from the furnaces to the moulds. Though the tower itself has gone, the street name keeps the memory of the craftsmen who once gathered here.

Visitors today walk along the quiet riverside path where the tower once stood. The Wakenitz flows past the former site, lined with willows and old warehouses. From the path the opposite bank shows the green roofs of the old foundry quarter. The spot is peaceful, with only a small plaque marking where the gate once opened onto the water.