Gonsenheim Gate

Fortified fortress

In the second half of the 19th century, Mainz expanded northwestward around the Gartenfeld, the area that is now Neustadt. As part of this expansion, the Rheingauwall was built by 1877, which also included the Gonsenheimer Tor. It had a large passageway for carriages and carts and a much narrower passageway for pedestrians.

Earthworks covered the Gonsenheim Gate for almost a hundred years. It was only rediscovered during excavation work for the new SWR building. SWR financed the reconstruction and is the monument's sponsor.

Gonsenheimer Tor at a glance

Facts, figures and data

Built: 1872

Historical

The 17th-century fortification belt around Mainz was extended to the northwest in the second half of the 19th century with the development of the Gartenfeld area. By 1877, a rampart had been built with a parallel moat and elevated positions in the form of so-called cavaliers. The "Prinz Holstein" and "Hauptstein" cavalier positions on Wallstraße, for example, are still largely intact. Their names are reminiscent of the former ramparts.

Fortified gates on the main arterial roads connected the city with the surrounding area. These included the Gonsenheimer Gate.

The increasing range of artillery made the northwestern ramparts militarily superfluous towards the end of the 19th century. Demolition work began in 1904. At the Gonsenheimer Gate, this only affected the upper part. The larger remainder remained intact, but disappeared under a large mound of earth.

Excavation

During excavation work for the new SWR building, the Gonsenheim Gate became visible again. Archaeologists uncovered a section of the wall on the landward side of the gate – the right-hand side as seen from the field. Integrating it into the new building proved impossible due to insurmountable structural and economic problems. However, in accordance with the recommendations of the monument preservation authorities, the Südwestrundfunk, as the building contractor, ensured that the southern part of the gate with its retaining wall was carefully dismantled and rebuilt just a few meters away from its old location, using most of the original material.

Architecture

Reconstruction of Gonsenheim Gate with ramparts

The gate, which was 35 meters wide at the time, had separate passages for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The gate had a thick earth covering to protect it from artillery fire and barrel-vaulted casemates. These were lit by large arched windows.

From the inside, the landward moat could be fired upon through embrasures. The moat in front of the gate was crossed by a causeway and a bridge made of steel double-T girders. It could be dismantled quickly in the event of an imminent attack.

The ashlar cladding with sandstone frames, bossed corner blocks, and profiled cornices displays a quality of craftsmanship that is otherwise only found in representative buildings of that period.

Today

After almost a hundred years, the Gonsenheimer Gate – and with it a piece of Mainz's history – has been rebuilt. Since 2007, it has been on display around 40 meters from its original location. The gate is located on what is now Am Fort Gonsenheim street, which corresponds to the street layout of 1880. Its name is derived from the former Fort Gonsenheim, which was located about one kilometer further out.

The middle and northern parts of the Gonsenheim Gate are still hidden beneath the road surface.

Contact us

Address

Gonsenheimer Tor

Am Fort Gonsenheim 139
5512 Mainz-Gonsenheim