Wormser Tor

The Wormser Tor is a triumphal-arch-style city gate in Frankenthal, a town in the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It once formed part of the town’s fortifications and stands at the northern entrance to the pedestrian zone. A matching gate, the Speyerer Tor, marks the southern approach. The street leading through the gate towards Worms is called Wormser Straße. The gate dates from 1770–72 and was built under Elector Carl Theodor in the Baroque style. It replaced earlier, simpler gates and was meant more for show than defence. During the Palatinate War of Succession in 1689 the fortress was demolished and the town burned. Later, in 1879, a council vote to remove the gate failed after a public referendum. In the Second World War it suffered damage but was restored. The gate has two distinct façades. The outer side shows a broad gable and paired pilasters to give a sturdy appearance. The inner side carries a flat relief and the coat of arms of Carl Theodor. A modern lighting system installed in 2007 illuminates the structure at night. The surrounding pedestrian zone leads visitors straight into the heart of Frankenthal.