Cattle Gate

Of the four city gates that once secured access to Kempen, only the gate tower of the Cattle Gate remains. Its name comes from an old cattle track that led to the fertile pastures in the northern marshlands. The original, simple tower of the Kuhtor was built around 1350.

Plans by local citizens to demolish it in 1883 were halted by the royal district administrator and the Berlin Ministry, as the structure was still in relatively good condition. From 1828 onwards, the Kuhtor served as the town prison.

The gate was once known as the St. Nicholas Gate. The statue of St. Nicholas above the passage recalls the route to St. Nicholas Chapel at Schloot, a border crossing to the Duchy of Geldern.

Pious figures on city gates were intended to inspire devotion upon leaving the town and to offer protection against dangers such as war and plague.

This includes the so-called “Kuhtor Madonna,” located to the left of the gate passage, dating from the 15th century. The original Bohemian Pietà from around 1520 can be seen today in the Municipal Kramer Museum.

Between 1896 and 1898, the Kuhtor was rebuilt into its present form by Cologne architect Heinrich Wiethase. An additional storey, along with turrets and bay windows, was added.

Although the style is not historically accurate, the picturesque, historicised design has enhanced the tower’s charm. The differing brick colour clearly marks where the third storey with its neo-Gothic towers was added.