Stadttor Troisdorf

The Stadttor Troisdorf refers to the two modern city gates in the pedestrian zone of Troisdorf-Mitte. They were created in the early 1980s by the artists Professor Joachim Bandau and Victor Bonato and mark the beginning and end of the approximately 1.5-kilometre car-free zone. The large city gate with its semicircle silhouette stands at Ursulaplatz and leads into Kölner Straße. The small city gate with its quarter-circle form ends the pedestrian area. Both gates are made of steel and glass and feature a water installation that especially in summer invites children to splash. They symbolise an open city and deliberately differ from medieval defensive gates. As publicly accessible works of art in the urban space they can be viewed free of charge at any time and shape the appearance of the town centre. Anyone exploring Troisdorf on foot will pass the city gates and experience them as distinctive orientation and meeting points.

History of Stadttor Troisdorf

The history of the Stadttor Troisdorf is closely linked to the creation of the pedestrian zone. Troisdorf only received town rights in 1952. In the 1960s the council decided to make the old town the centre of the newly formed town of ten localities and to create a large pedestrian zone. The problem was the heavily trafficked federal road B 8 that ran right through the place. After the construction of the Theodor-Heuss-Ring as a bypass, space was created for the pedestrian zone. Construction began in the late 1970s. Instead of technical Mero constructions the administration opted for art: a competition was held which was won by Joachim Bandau from Aachen and Victor Bonato from Niederkassel. They worked with steel and glass, materials that have a special significance in Troisdorf. The gates were positioned so that they open and invite into the town rather than close it off. They were completed in 1982 and attracted nationwide attention. The square at the large city gate was named after Wilhelm Mülhens, founder of the 4711 perfume dynasty, in 2024. The gates remain central identification points of the town centre to this day.

Highlights of Stadttor Troisdorf

The highlights of the Stadttor Troisdorf lie in the artistic design and the function as urban space markers. The large gate at Ursulaplatz shows a semicircle silhouette, the small gate a quarter-circle form. Both follow the same principle: floor slabs are divided in two and determine a shift of the arch. This creates a zigzag movement that makes the monument appear expansive but not massive. Steel supports mark the corner points and bound tall rectangular fields that are connected with transparent glass. Water flows over the offset glass panes and creates a play of light and movement. In summer the water feature is popular with children for splashing. The gates open deliberately towards the town centre and symbolise invitation rather than defence. They stand at historically significant places: around 1900 the centre of the village with school and fairground was located at the large gate. Today information steles with historical photographs nearby illustrate the change of the town centre. A visit to the gates takes only a few minutes but invites lingering and photography.

Opening Hours, Tickets & How to Get to Stadttor Troisdorf

The Stadttor Troisdorf is a public work of art in the urban space and is freely accessible at any time. There are no opening hours and no admission charge. The large city gate stands at Ursulaplatz / the beginning of Kölner Straße, the small city gate at the upper end of the pedestrian zone. By car reach the town centre via the A 59, exit Troisdorf, and park in the surrounding multi-storey car parks or at Römerplatz. By public transport travel to Troisdorf station and walk or take bus lines into the pedestrian zone. The station is only a few minutes away. The gates are barrier-free and form part of the pedestrian area. A bicycle rental station of the RSVG is nearby. Current information on the town centre and events is available at the Tourist Information at Burg Wissem. A walk along the entire pedestrian zone takes about 20 to 30 minutes and passes both gates.

Attractions Near Stadttor Troisdorf

In the immediate vicinity of the Stadttor Troisdorf there are numerous offers of the town centre. The pedestrian zone provides shops, cafés and restaurants. Konrad-Adenauer-Platz and further squares invite lingering. Burg Wissem with the Picture Book Museum, MUSIT and the Portal Wahner Heide is only a few minutes’ walk or a short bus ride away. The Kunsthaus Troisdorf, the town hall and further works of art in public space complete the offer. The Wahner Heide and Rotter See are reachable by bicycle or bus. Bonn and Cologne are a short distance away. In this way a visit to the city gates can easily be combined with shopping, culture and nature.