Historic Site · Lübeck, Germany
Holsten Gate
The Holsten Gate (Low German and German: Holstentor) is a city gate marking off the western boundary of the old center of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck.
Photo: Christian Wolf (www.c-w-design.de) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 de. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Lübeck, Germany |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Coordinates | 53.8662° N, 10.6797° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Holsten Gate is known for
The Holsten Gate (Low German and German: Holstentor) is a city gate marking off the western boundary of the old center of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck.
About Holsten Gate
The Holsten Gate (Low German and German: Holstentor) is a city gate marking off the western boundary of the old center of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck. Built in 1464, the Brick Gothic construction is one of the relics of Lübeck's medieval city fortifications and one of two remaining city gates, the other being the Citadel Gate (Burgtor). Known for its two-round towers and arched entrance, it is regarded today as a symbol of the city.
History
The rich Hanseatic city of Lübeck felt the need in the course of the centuries to protect itself from outside threats with ever stronger walls and fortifications. Three gates gave access to the city: the Citadel Gate in the north, Mill Gate in the south, and the Holsten Gate in the west. To the east, the city was protected by the dammed Wakenitz River.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Holsten Gate website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Lübeck |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Hamburg Airport (HAM) |
| Distance from the airport | 31.9 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Hamburg Helmut Schmidt Airport (HAM) · Hamburg, Germany · 32.6 miles away
- Bremen Airport (BRE) · Bremen, Germany · 96.2 miles away
- Hannover Airport (HAJ) · Hannover, Germany · 105.5 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Germany
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Holsten Gate?
The Holsten Gate (Low German and German: Holstentor) is a city gate marking off the western boundary of the old center of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck.
Where is Holsten Gate located?
Holsten Gate is in Lübeck, Germany. Its coordinates are 53.8662° N, 10.6797° E.
How do I get to Holsten Gate?
The nearest town is Lübeck, and the nearest airport is Hamburg Airport (HAM), about 31.9 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Holsten Gate?
The rich Hanseatic city of Lübeck felt the need in the course of the centuries to protect itself from outside threats with ever stronger walls and fortifications. Three gates gave access to the city: the Citadel Gate in the north, Mill Gate in the south, and the Holsten Gate in the west.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holsten_Gate — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q321229 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- http://www.luebeck.de/tourismus/sightseeing/sehenswuerdigkeiten/stadttore/holstentor.html — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.