Theodore Dreiser Haus und Obertor
Mayen
The 34-meter high Upper Gate is one of two preserved city gates of the old city fortification. It was built in connection with the city wall in the years 1299 to 1354. In total, the Upper Gate has five floors, but they were built in different periods. Signs of this are different stone formats and corner ashlar formations. For example, the first floor is still from the time of Archbishop and Elector Balduin of Luxembourg. The addition of a storey took place only afterwards up to the extension in the 15th century. The old way from the Eifel to the city used to lead through this gate. Today, the Obertor is a wedding venue of the Mayen registry office, where you can get married on the top floor. Right next to the Obertor you can see the "Theodore-Dreiser-Haus" with the town library and the tourist information. This was named after the American writer Theodore Dreiser, who was the son of an emigrant from Mayen.