Neumarkttor
The Neumarkt Tower and the Neumarkt Gate were part of the city fortifications on the right bank of Zurich . The system was opposite the Rechberghaus at the junction to Neumarkt am Hirschengraben . The fortress was later also called "Kronentor", but should not be confused with the Kronenporte , which stood further up on the site of today's Zoological Museum and was part of the third city fortification from the 17th century.
history
The “Obere Strasse” led through the Neumarkttor to Schwamendingen and Winterthur and over the Zürichberg towards the Zürcher Oberland and Kyburg . In 1257 the gate was first mentioned in a steering wheel. In 1340 it appears as the Nünmargtsturm and since 1637 as the Neumarktstor , named after the Neumarkt to the west.
The tower was manned by a guard and had to be constantly open and manned in the 16th century. In 1575 the gate was armed by three rifle shooters and two hook rifles . In 1589 a drawbridge was added. From 1629 to 1638 a fortress-like forecourt was built to reinforce the medieval city fortifications. Since then, the name «Kronentor» has also appeared. The name comes from the “Zur Krone” inn, which stood opposite the gate outside the city wall. The "Haus zum Rechberg" at Hirschengraben 40 now stands on the site of this inn.
The old house "Zum Kronentor" was built to the north of the tower. The gate was decorated with a richly decorated clock, Zurich shield, lions and the imperial coat of arms. In 1827/1828 the whole complex was demolished because of the threat of collapse. At the corner of Hirschengraben / Neumarkt there is the house "Zum Kronentor", built in 1833 by Hans Conrad Stadler .
tower
The front of the 29 meter high tower on the trench side ran in line with the city wall. Its base was 6.6 × 7.5 meters. A pointed arch formed the passage. The ground floor and the corner connections were made from humpback blocks. The exposure was through rectangular windows, on the side of the trench through narrow window slits. The structural features suggest that it was built around 1250.
Demolition of the Neumarkt Gate in July 1827. Drawing by Heinrich Keller
Same place in 2009. On the right the house "Zum Kronentor"
literature
- Christine Barraud Wiener, Peter Jezler: The Art Monuments of the Canton of Zurich, City of Zurich Volume I , Wiese Verlag, Basel 1999, p. 195
- Thomas Germann: Zurich in Time Lapse , Volumes I and II, Werd-Verlag, Zurich 1997 and 2000
Web links
Coordinates: 47 ° 22 '22.9 " N , 8 ° 32' 49.4" E ; CH1903: 683 714 / 247 501