City Wall Freyburg - Eckstädter Gate

The city layout, apart from a bulge around the city church, appears remarkably regular and rectangular. This must be interpreted as an indication of a planned foundation in the late 12th century. Numerous fires have influenced the architectural development of the city (1515, 1551, 1608, 1678).

Similar to Naumburg or Laucha, Freyburg also still possesses a nearly intact city wall ring, which - about 1200 m long - encloses an area of approx. 85000 m².

The mention of Freyburg as "civitas" in 1261 does not necessarily have to be understood as an indication of the presence of a city wall. However, it is certain that work on such a wall began in the second half of the 14th century, but especially in the middle of the 15th century. The wall, made of rubble masonry, had a high-lying battlement. Twelve round towers still project from the wall line. These have loopholes on several levels. Hinge stones attest that these loopholes were once closable by means of wooden shutters.

The gates were naturally particularly vulnerable: the Obertor in the north, the Kirchtor in the southeast, the Eckstädter Tor in the southwest. Characteristic of the gates, in addition to gate towers and the actual archway within the city wall, are above all the advanced fortifications, so-called barbicans. Only at the Eckstädter Tor is this still largely preserved (parallels: Marientor in Naumburg, gate in Laucha). Also worth mentioning are two smaller gates in the south and east of the city - like the gate structures, mostly demolished in the 19th century. Remarkable are the so-called "Hosenscharten" (trouser loopholes), loopholes with one opening inside and several (at least two) on the outside.

A walk around the city wall is worthwhile. It is not yet possible everywhere, but that is expected to change in the foreseeable future.