Tour of the Calwer Gate

*The Calwer Gate is arguably Neubulach’s most iconic landmark. The gate tower is open on select Sundays from May through October.* *The climb up to the tower room is well worth it; from up here, you have magnificent views of the Schlehen- and Heckengäu regions and the western part of the Swabian Alb with its highest peaks.* To protect the nascent mining industry, the Staufer dynasty founded the town of Neubulach in 1220/30. With the construction of the castle, the approximately 700-meter-long wall, and two identical gate towers, the town was also granted municipal rights. A visible symbol of this is the town coat of arms featuring the old imperial eagle on the Calwer Gate (also known as the Porta Argenta, or “Silver Gate”). To the left of the gate, attached to the city wall, stands an old customs house covered with green-glazed tiles, where the “toll” was paid. The city moat ran deep beneath the gate entrance and was made passable by a drawbridge. The gate entrance itself was secured with a portcullis, whose four guide stones can still be seen today. Through the pointed arch, we enter the “Städtle” beneath the Romanesque barrel vault. The tower room, as it appears today, was converted into a reading room for spa guests at the beginning of the 20th century with funds from Julius Heuß, an honorary citizen of Neubulach. It used to be the living quarters of the gatekeeper, who monitored access to the town and, above all, kept watch for fires within the town limits. The wall and ceiling paneling is still original. It was only cleaned and repainted in 1998 by dedicated residents of the town. From up here, you have magnificent views: to the east, the view extends over the Städtle to the Hecken- und Schlehengäu. On a clear day, the magnificent panorama of the western part of the Swabian Alb with its highest peaks appears on the southern horizon. To the west, the view extends over the districts of Oberhaugstett and Liebelsberg, with its striking water tower. Looking north, we see the Diebsturm. *The tower keepers look forward to welcoming many visitors to the historic tower room.*