The Burgtor is the northern gate of Lübeck's old town island and, together with the much more famous Holstentor, one of only two city gates that survive. Its late Gothic brick tower dates from 1444, and in 1806 French troops forced their way into the city through it during the Battle of Lübeck.
The Burgtor at a glance
- Where: at the northern end of Große Burgstraße, where the old town meets the Elbe-Lübeck Canal and the River Trave.
- Built: 1444, replacing an older Romanesque gate; the Baroque, helmet-shaped roof was added in 1685.
- By: the city master builder Nicolaus Peck.
- What it is today: a listed part of the UNESCO World Heritage old town of Lübeck, with the main road into the old town still running through its passages.
- Time needed: 15 to 20 minutes, or about an hour combined with the European Hansemuseum next door.
The gate to the only land route into town
Lübeck's old town sits on an island between the Trave and the Wakenitz, and for centuries the Burgtor guarded its only access by land. The name comes from the castle that once stood on the hill here; in 1227 it was turned into a Dominican friary, the Burgkloster. The present tower was the inner one of a sequence of three gates, with walls, moats and a fortified dam in front of it, of which only this gate remains.
In the 19th century the city considered pulling the gate down to make room for new buildings, but the citizens' assembly rejected the plan. Instead, extra passages were opened beside it in 1850, 1875 and 1928 to let traffic through. When the Elbe-Lübeck Canal was dug around 1900, the old land link was cut and replaced by bridges, including the neo-Gothic lift bridges you cross today. From 1912 the gate tower even served as a home: the city granted the writer Ida Boy-Ed the right to live there, which she did until her death in 1928.
What to look for
- The square brick tower itself, plainer and more military-looking than the richly decorated Holstentor.
- The Baroque roof of 1685, a curved helmet that gives the gate a different outline from the pointed towers of the Holstentor.
- The low buildings on either side: the former customs house and the old stables, both decorated with terracotta friezes; the Renaissance frieze on the customs house comes from the workshop of Statius von Düren.
- The plaque in the easternmost passage recalling the Battle of Lübeck on 6 November 1806 and the French occupation that followed.
- The neo-Gothic lift bridges over the canal just outside the gate, built when the canal was dug.
Tips for your visit
- Walk through the gate from outside the old town for the effect it was meant to have: the tower appears first, then Große Burgstraße opens up towards the centre.
- The gate is on a busy road, so cross at the lights and use the side passages for photos.
- Combine it with the European Hansemuseum and the Burgkloster, a few steps away, for the story of the Hanseatic League.
Nearby
- European Hansemuseum: a museum on the Hanseatic League, built into the slope beside the Burgkloster.
- Burgkloster: the medieval friary on the site of the old castle, now part of the Hansemuseum.
- Heiligen-Geist-Hospital: one of the oldest surviving hospital buildings in Europe, on the Koberg square a few minutes' walk south.
- St Jacob's Church: the sailors' church on the Koberg, with a lifeboat from the sailing ship Pamir as a memorial to sailors lost at sea.
See Lübeck with World City Trail
Our Lübeck scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around two hours, with about 44 minutes of walking. It includes the Holsten Gate, the Town Hall and St Mary's Church.
If you prefer a different format, Lübeck also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Lübeck scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Lübeck →
Play the outdoor escape game in Lübeck →
Facts checked in October 2026.