Gothic Gate
The Gothic Chamber Gate on the northern plateau is one of the sparse traces of the medieval castle com-plex on the Schlossberg. The surviving name ‘Rear Gate’ indicates that the passageway was created after the castle was extended with a second wall in the late Middle Ages. The Chamber Gate created a link bet-ween the Rear Ward and the interior of the fortress. When the fortress was built from 1544 on, it was integrated as a basement room and thus remained intact. It also survived the later construction of the Fire Watcher’s House in 1820 and the conversion of the plateau into a panorama terrace in 1894. After being rediscovered in 1982 and excavated between 1998 and 2001, the gate can be accessed again.
Good to know
The Gothic Gate is situated on the northern plateau of Graz’s Schlossberg. It is located close to the Hackher Lion, the Cistern and the Bell Tower, making it an ideal stop on a walking tour of the Schlossberg.
You should allow around 10 to 15 minutes to explore the Gothic Gate and take photographs. Thanks to its location, it can easily be combined with visits to the Clock Tower, the Bell Tower, the Cistern and the Hackher Lion.
The Gothic Gate is one of the very few surviving structures from the medieval castle on the Schlossberg. When the Renaissance fortress was built in the 16th century, the gate was incorporated into the new fortifications and used as a cellar. This unusual reuse allowed it to survive both the extensive reconstruction of the fortress and its demolition in 1809.
Yes. The Gothic Gate is located in the freely accessible area of Graz’s Schlossberg and can be visited free of charge at any time.
Picture gallery
