Griechenpforte
A gateway in Cologne's southwestern city wall, probably created as early as the 10th century, pulled down around 1856; a fragment of wall still marks the spot today.
since 900
The Griechenpforte (also "porta Grecorum") was a gateway in Cologne's southwestern city wall, probably created as early as the 10th century. It stood by the Griechenmarkt next to a Roman round tower and was pulled down around 1856.
At a Glance
- Built
- probably in the 10th century, first mentioned in the 12th century
- Location
- the southwestern corner of the old Roman wall, at the "Kleiner Griechenmarkt" in the St. Peter district
- Purpose
- access to the monastery district and to the workshops along the streams; lost its defensive role after the 3rd city expansion to the Bach and Weyer gates
- Demolished
- around 1856/57 under city architect Julius Carl Raschdorff
- Notable
- a drawing from 1315 is regarded as the oldest known depiction of a secular building in Cologne
- What remains
- a fragment of wall at the southwestern entrance to the Griechenmarkt
Age comparison
Age compared with other places in Cologne.
Origin of the Name
The name changed several times over the centuries: first recorded as "Greca porta," the structure was called "Criegporta" around 1186/96 and "next to the Kriegspforte" around 1235 — a form still used officially in 1797. Only in the French period did the initial "G" return, re-establishing a historical link to the age of Emperor Otto and his Greek wife Theophanu, who was buried in St. Pantaleon. Residents of Greek origin, however, could not be traced in the records of the "Griechenmarkt quarter."
End and What Remains
By around 1307 the gate had already lost its defensive role; the new fortifications of the 3rd city expansion and the Bach and Weyer gates had taken over its function. The later built-over gate could no longer cope with the growing traffic and was demolished around 1856/57 under city architect Julius Carl Raschdorff. A fragment of wall at the southwestern approach to the Griechenmarkt quarter still marks the site of the old gate today.
Map
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Address
Griechenpforte
50676 Köln
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Sources & links
Auto-generated, last verified: 2026-08-17
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