Isartor, Munich

Isartor is a medieval city gate and a surviving part of Munich’s historic fortifications. It stands close to the Isar, whose name it bears, and served as a defensive entrance in the city wall. The gate belongs to the three remaining Gothic town gates of Munich and is the most easterly among them.

The structure began in 1337 during Munich’s expansion and the building of its second city wall, completed under Emperor Louis IV. Its central tower rises with a powerful, enclosed shape, while flanking towers create the gate’s fortified entrance. It is the only medieval gate in Munich to retain its medium main tower.

Friedrich von Gärtner restored it from 1833 to 1835, bringing its form close to the earlier appearance. Look at the frescoes on the gate: Bernhard von Neher made them in 1835, and they show Emperor Louis returning in triumph after the Battle of Mühldorf in 1322. Inside, the gate now houses a humorous museum devoted to comedian and actor Karl Valentin, along with a café.

The medieval structure suffered heavy shelling in the Second World War and was rebuilt, while the former Isartortheater was destroyed. The gate’s painted history and comic interior give this fortress an unexpectedly lively character.