Berlin Gate (Wesel)

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Wesel, Berliner Tor (2010)

The Berliner Tor in Wesel is part of the Wesel Fortress and was built by the fortress and court architect Jean de Bodt from 1718 to 1722.

It is located on the east side of Wesel city center and is the only remaining gate of the former Wesel fortress. It was built in the Prussian Baroque style and renovated in 1791. It was badly damaged in the course of the deconsolidation from 1890–1895 and especially at the end of the Second World War. Nevertheless, its representative function can be clearly recognized. As part of the fortress, it only has a single passage.

The Berliner Tor is crowned on the field side by a trophy with the allegorical representation of fame and good reputation. Like the rest of the sculptural jewelry, it is the work of Guillaume Hulot . However, it is a replica from the 19th century. The city side was destroyed in World War II. The Latin inscription on the ledge reads: The fortification of the city and the citadel, which was started by the Elector of Brandenburg Friedrich Wilhelm and expanded by Friedrich , the first king of Prussia, was made by King Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, a son of Friedrich I and a grandson of Friedrich Wilhelm, accomplished in a manner as generous as that of a king. 1722.

The larger than life figures of Minerva and Heracles are also located on the field side between two Doric columns . A medallion is attached to each of the figures carved from sandstone. They show a sleeping lion with the Latin inscription: To be afraid even in the calm and the flying Prussian eagle with the also Latin inscription: It does not give way to the sun according to Friedrich Wilhelm I.

The square around the gate was redesigned in 1984 .

literature

  • Paul Clemen : The Berlin Thor in Wesel. In: Die Denkmalpflege , Volume 3, No. 12 (September 25, 1901), pp. 91–92.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Hartwig Beseler and Niels Gutschow: War fates of German architecture - losses, damage, reconstruction , Volume 1: North, Karl Wachholtz Verlag, Neumünster 1988, p. 738, illustration p. 740

Web links

Commons : Berliner Tor  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 51 ° 39 ′ 26 "  N , 6 ° 37 ′ 20"  E