The Carlstor, or St. Charles Gate, is the only surviving part of the medieval walls of the city of St. Gallen in Switzerland. This gate was built between 1569 and 1570.
Due to the economic stability the city gained in the fourteenth century as a result of the development of linen workshops, St. Gallen was considered a separate entity, independent of the Confederation. At that time, its history was strongly influenced by the repeated conflicts between the town and the local monastery. Even then, the idea of building separate gates in the city wall was suggested so that the holy fathers could use them and not clash with the townspeople. This plan was not realised at the time.
After the famous Reformation adherent Joachim von Watt began preaching his religion in St. Gallen from 1526, many of the town's inhabitants became Protestants. The Catholic monastery found itself even more isolated. The abbey was located on the territory of the town, which in turn was surrounded by defence walls with towers. Thus, the abbot of the monastery had to pass through the city, which had adopted the new faith, to leave the city. This led to even more violent clashes between the monks and the townspeople. It was not until 1566 that the two warring parties were able to resolve this conflict through mediation. Abbot Othmar Kunz was granted the right to make in the city wall nearest to the monastery his own gate with a lift bridge. The gate leading from the abbey to the city was to be locked with two locks. Only the abbot of the monastery and the mayor of the town had the keys. The abbot in turn had to renounce all claims on the city and its inhabitants.
Construction of the new St Charles Gate in the south-eastern part of the wall began in 1569. Instead of a lift bridge, a narrow causeway with a small wooden bridge was built. Even today, the St Charles Gate is still marked by a relief depicting Abbot Othmar, who achieved its construction. Next to it is an image of St Gall, the founder of the monastery. And above them you can see a relief with the crucifixion of Jesus. Next to it, the sculptor Baltus von Seilmannsweiler depicted the Virgin Mary and St John. The gate was named after Cardinal Charles Borromeo, who was the first church hierarch to enter the city through it.
