Schwabentor (Schaffhausen)

The Schwabentorturm from the north

The Schwabentor in the old town of Schaffhausen was first mentioned in a document in 1361 as the “new tower”. It formed the northern end of the medieval city fortifications against Swabia . Today you can enter the suburbs through the Schwabentor. On the western side of the Schwabentor, a piece of the old city wall with battlements and the Finsterwald Tower as a corner tower has been preserved.

Building history

In 1555 a bulwark, the so-called Zwinger, was built in front of the tower. As early as 1607/8, the bulwark was replaced by a larger fore with two inner courtyards and two round towers. The two round towers were razed in 1867 .

Brand and redesign

"Kosmos" by Carl Roesch

In 1932 the interior of the tower and the mansard roof with the bell tower from 1782 were completely destroyed in the fire at the Schwabentor . After the fire, the architect Wolfgang Müller redesigned the Schwabentor between 1933 and 1935. The painter Carl Roesch installed frescoes in the clock niches . The painting on the south side is called "Kosmos" (man and woman in the cosmic cycle between death and demon, an angel guarding the flames protects the couple). The painting on the north side is called "cycle" (the four ages in the sequence of the unstoppable movement of the clock). The tower has been covered by a tent roof since the fire. A Schaffhauser buck, which was designed by Richard Petraschke, is emblazoned on the top as a wind vane.

Lappi do d'Augen uf

The saying of the painter Arnold Oechslin, who has been emblazoned on the keystone of the northern archway since 1935: "Lappi tue d'Augen uf" ("Fool, open your eyes!") Became known far beyond Schaffhausen. The saying is under the depiction of a farmer with a piglet under his arm who is being harassed by cars. The design was selected from four proposals by the Schaffhausen city council; there is no historical connection to the Schwabentor. Oechslin was inspired to the saying by a Russian inscription from the second half of the 19th century on the entrance gate to Villa Charlottenfels in Schaffhausen; However, the city council justified its decision by saying that an important intersection was being built in front of the Schwabentor. In addition, referring to the neighboring school building, it is not school wisdom that is the main thing for people, but keeping your eyes open.