Römerturm
Roman guard tower in Köln, Germany.
Shortly after the promotion of the Roman garrison Ara Ubierum to a colonia around 50 AD, a town wall was constructed to protect Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. The wall featured nine gates and nineteen towers, the later of which followed a standardised design.
Today, this remaining tower in the north-west of the ancient town is the best preserved trace of this fortification. An interesting feature added at a later stage is its decorated exterior achieved by the combination of differently coloured building materials. While the Roman empire ended, the walls remained and provided protection to the city untill the 10th century, when the city limits were extended an new walls constructed. From 1306-1802, the tower was part of St. Clare's monastery where it housed the latrine.
Römerturm
Roman guard tower in Köln, Germany.
Shortly after the promotion of the Roman garrison Ara Ubierum to a colonia around 50 AD, a town wall was constructed to protect Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium. The wall featured nine gates and nineteen towers, the later of which followed a standardised design.
Today, this remaining tower in the north-west of the ancient town is the best preserved trace of this fortification. An interesting feature added at a later stage is its decorated exterior achieved by the combination of differently coloured building materials. While the Roman empire ended, the walls remained and provided protection to the city untill the 10th century, when the city limits were extended an new walls constructed. From 1306-1802, the tower was part of St. Clare's monastery where it housed the latrine.