Right in front of you, you’ll spot a tall, bright white tower with steep, red, stepped roofs and several small square windows-just look above the rooftops and past the trees, it stands out as the tallest structure in the area.
Welcome to the legendary Pocket Tower! Imagine the year is 1390. You’re standing by the city’s fortress wall, and back then, this five-story tower was your ticket out of town-if you were allowed, of course. Its unusual name comes from the “roof pockets,” little architectural tricks used for the saddle roof sitting between those dramatic staircase-shape gables. Pretty creative, right?
Now, long ago, the Pocket Tower was the mighty gate on Ingolstadt’s southwestern edge. Apart from the Münzberg Gate closer to the river, this was the only way out through the thick, second city wall-so you can bet guards kept a sharp eye on everyone who passed. And yes, you’re looking at the highest gate in the old city defenses! When the city built its massive fortifications in the 16th century, the Pocket Tower somehow missed out on getting its own bastion. However, the Fronte Preysing-what you see beyond-was added later for extra protection.
But here’s where things get a little dark and mysterious. Over centuries, the Pocket Tower switched from guarding the city to guarding its… less fortunate citizens. It became the executioner’s house and the city jail, and during the unsettling witch trials of the late 1500s, you’d hear shouts and sobs echoing through these thick walls. Even the future Bavarian Elector Maximilian I came to watch the action-though rumor has it he complained the interrogators were too gentle. Guess he wasn’t the forgiving type!
Try picturing it: a wooden bridge once spanned a deep, water-filled moat here, connecting you to the outside world. Now, that bridge has vanished, but the tower’s secrets remain. So linger a moment-maybe imagine the clatter of guards’ boots, or the uneasy whispers of prisoners-as the Pocket Tower stands tall, keeping watch over Ingolstadt’s past and present. Ready for your next stop? Let’s see where the old city leads us!
