Germany - Neubrandenburg, city wall

Neubrandenburg - founded in the year of 1248 - is famous for its medieval heritage of Brick Gothic. The city centre itself exists of harsh GDR architecture.

One of the main features of Neubrandenburg is it largely intact medieval city wall. The wall has a perimeter of 2,3 km and is 7 m high. The four Brick Gothic city gates see PiP’s), dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries, gave the city its nick name "Stadt der Vier Tore" (City of Four Gates).

Wedged into the stone wall are the 27 half-timbered houses that remain of the original 56 sentry posts. When firearms rendered such defences obsolete in the 16th century, the guardhouses were converted into so called “Wiekhäuser”; homes for the poor, disadvantaged and elderly. Most of the surviving homes have been rebuilt and are now craft shops, galleries and cafes.