Unteres Tor (Stadttor)/ Lower Gate (City Gate), Bregenz

The Unteres Tor stands at the entrance to the upper town and dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. It served as the main link between the lower town near the harbour and the Oberstadt. After the fire of 1571, it was rebuilt and later raised in the 17th century, giving it its present four storeys and improving surveillance together with the nearby Martinsturm. Its thick stone walls and deep arch still reflect its defensive role.

The gate leads toward the Martinsturm, the highest landmark in the upper town, known for its large onion dome, one of the biggest in Central Europe. Together, the gate and the tower formed a key defensive line, combining controlled access with elevated observation.

Under the arch hangs a dried porbeagle shark, long called a “dragon,” likely brought back as a sea curiosity and seen as a protective symbol. The façade bears the coats of arms of the Counts of Montfort and the town. The gate is linked to Ehreguta, who in 1406 warned of an Appenzell attack. For over 400 years, the night watchman called out her name at 9 p.m. in winter, and a nearby relief once thought to show her was later identified as a Celtic mother goddess.