Zülpich

A circular wall made of bricks: this is the core of the medieval town of Zülpich. On the Mühlenberg, the central point of the former Roman settlement, the late antique fortification walls were built over in the Middle Ages. Roman foundations can be seen in the basement of the Museum of Bathing Culture. Outside, Corten steel bands mark the mighty foundations hidden beneath the medieval wall. However, the pre-medieval city wall probably described a narrower circle. It was not until 1278 that the stone wall visible today was erected under Archbishop Siegfried von Westerburg, incorporating the newly built castle.

The expansion of the city fortifications was completed at the end of the 15th century. Since then, four medieval gate towers have spanned the major arterial roads, at least three of which are of ancient origin: the Cologne, Münster and Bach gates stand on Roman main roads.

Via Agrippa leads straight through the Cologne Gate into the city. Between this gate and the road “Martinstraße” breakthrough, the medieval city wall is still largely preserved at its original height. On the inside, towards the road “Wallstraße”, there are buttresses and steps for a battlement.

Increasing traffic at the end of the 19th century meant that the city wall had to be broken through on both sides of the Cologne Gate. However, the Cologne Gate itself, which like all the other gates was a double gate, is still largely preserved in its original condition.