Side wings of the Kaisertor reconstructed
Mainz has an imperial gate once again! The two side wings of the old fortress gate stand as magnificently as ever on the banks of the Rhine and are well worth a visit. The project was initiated by a donation of €200,000 to the Mainz Monument Network. The remains of the old gate were preserved during the work in 2018, including the damage they had suffered over time – because this tells the story – and the missing stones were replaced.
Old plans from the time of city architect Eduard Kreyßig were used for this purpose. However, these only contained the main dimensions of the three-part gate, not those of the individual stones. Fortunately, however, remnants of both side wings of the gate were still available, so that the dimensions of the individual blocks could be recorded and compared with the old drawings. Based on this research, each individual stone of the side wings that needed to be replaced was then drawn for the stonemasonry work.
Rhine throat fastening
The so-called "Rheinkehlbefestigung" (Rhine throat fortification) with an iron fence and mighty brick gates was built between 1837 and 1879 to secure the city militarily. The gates – including the Kaisertor (Emperor's Gate) – ensured the connection between the city and the riverside promenade and were elaborately designed to enrich the cityscape. This was also true of the three-part Kaisertor, created by city architect Eduard Kreyßig, which was crowned by a coat of arms with an eagle flanked by two cherubs and was one of the most magnificent gates. Unfortunately, for traffic reasons, it was not possible to reconstruct this central section.
Temporary bridge over the Rhine
Although the Kaisertor was largely spared from the bombing raids of World War II, the 19th-century fortress gate met a sad fate shortly thereafter.
In order to cross the Rhine—the Rhine bridge no longer existed—American troops erected a temporary bridge in January 1946 as an extension of Kaiserstrasse. To do this, the Kaisertor had to be demolished. Since then, only the remains of the left and right wings have served as a reminder of the fortress gate.