Fortress Mainz-Gonsenheimer Tor

The Gonsenheimer Tor was a gate system with separate passages for vehicular and pedestrian traffic. To secure the gate, barrel-vaulted casemates were located to its right and left, illuminated by large arched windows from the city side. On the field side, there are double-story firing openings on both sides of the passages, the lower ones of which were only just above the bottom of the ditch. An increased defensive effect was achieved by a bridge spanning the upstream ditch, made of steel double-T girders, which could be quickly dismantled in case of war. Inward, the gate was additionally secured by a drawbridge. Passively, the gate was protected by a massive earth cover as protection against artillery fire.

The gate has a total width of 35 meters. It was not adorned with a show facade, but the ashlar cladding consisting of sandstone frames, lintel arches, rusticated corner blocks, and profiled cornices shows high craftsmanship.

The fortress gate was demolished at the beginning of the 20th century, as an additional defensive ring became necessary due to improved artillery technology. In 1904, the city was decommissioned as a fortress. By order of Emperor Wilhelm II, many of the fortifications and city gates were demolished by 1912, including the Gonsenheimer Tor. The upper part of the gate was demolished, lower parts were backfilled, covered, and everything leveled.

During construction work for a new Südwestrundfunk building including an underground car park in 2003, remains of the lower part reappeared. After negotiations with the city and the state monument authorities, SWR took over the sponsorship and responsibility for restoring the structure, albeit about 40 meters from its former location. A wall plaque provides information about the monument.