Discover history: Pforte - Paulikirche
Gate
Pfortentor
Between Nikolai and Klostertor gates, the city wall appears to have been breached by a gateway as early as the 15th century, from where you could cross the Pfortensteg to Kaßberg with its beer cellars and bleaching plans.
In 1477, Ullrich Schütz, perhaps the city's first major industrialist, built a water-powered copper hammer for processing ore here.
The town's bleaching plans were still located in front of the Pfortentor in the 17th century, although the trade was already in decline due to high customs duties. In consideration of the local linen weavers, these were also repaired after the destruction of the Thirty Years' War at the end of the 17th century.
The shape of the gate tower can no longer be traced back to around 1800, as it had already been demolished and its overgrown foundation walls formed the entrance to the town. It seemed to have formed a massive counterpart to the Red Tower.
Around 1840, when the moat was already overgrown with trees and bushes and the remains of the Pfortenturm had already disappeared, a paved path led into the town.
Transformer station
In 1913, a substation and battery storage facility was built at the entrance to the Getreidemarkt and completed in its current form by Baurat Friedrich Wagner-Poltrock in the style of classical modernism.
The former substation has been used as a youth hostel since 2012.
St Paul's Church
Franciscan monastery
Situated on the wall, right by the gate, the foundation of the Franciscan monastery of St Andrew in Chemnitz in 1481 can confidently be described as a provocation to the Benedictines on today's Schloßberg and the town church.
In addition to the premises for housing the monks, from 1485 there was a hall church with a choir, the farmyard, some garden land and a small cemetery on the site. The 16 monks, on the other hand, quickly won the sympathy of the townspeople with their religious fervour and modest demeanour. However, the parish priest of St Jacob's Church feared for his income, as the Franciscans were hearing confessions from the faithful without payment. The fact that the inhabitants of the town developed a close relationship with the Franciscan monks was also demonstrated by the fact that many wealthy people and entire guilds joined the lay brotherhood.
In 1489, the town magistrate Johann Neefe bequeathed 500 guilders to the monastery. In return, he, his wife, seven children and all his ancestors were accepted into the order. When the complex was vacated after 54 years with the Reformation, this met with a muted response from the population.
New St John's Church
During the Thirty Years' War, the buildings were destroyed and the New St John's Church was built on the site between 1750 and 1756, as the Old St John's Church on Zschopauer Straße offered too little space for the growing congregation. It was initially erected as an unadorned building without a tower, but with high windows. The interior was a bright hall surrounded by two-storey galleries with room for 1,600 people. Only the sculptures on the altar and the Silbermann organ attracted more attention.
St Paul's Church
In 1875, the New St John's Church was given the name St Paul's Church. It was extensively renovated and a tower was added in 1887. On 5 March 1945, the church was completely destroyed by bombs.
Immediately after the Second World War, the ruins were secured, demolished and the tower rebuilt. The surrounding walls were repaired and prepared for a new roof truss.
A church event centre was planned for the interior. However, the politically motivated removal of the Paulikirche became apparent in 1957 as part of the new planning of the city centre. The church was demolished in April 1961. Today, a block of flats and a car park stand in its place.