Severinstor

The city wall of Cologne was a fortification built in several construction phases over centuries. The first phase was built between the late 1st and 3rd centuries for the square "Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium" of the Romans. Another semicircular line of fortifications was built in the Middle Ages, making Cologne the most powerful fortified city north of the Alps. The city wall was 9 km long and had 12 city gates - a number deliberately chosen to symbolize the bond with the city of Jerusalem, whose city wall also had 12 city gates.

Today, remains of the city wall and defense towers are still preserved. For example, the Severinstorburg, in the Middle Ages also called "Porta Severini", later Severinstor, it is one of four surviving city gate castles of the medieval city wall of Cologne. The Cologne Shrove Monday procession traditionally starts here.

Explore the former city gates and defense towers during a relaxed walk through the city.