The Basler Gate Tower is the last remaining city gate in Durlach and a striking landmark of the former royal seat of Baden-Durlach. It dates back to the 14th century and was once part of the southern city fortifications, which included a barbican, moat, and drawbridge.
After its destruction in the War of the Palatinate Succession in 1689, the tower was rebuilt as a prison – complete with massive vaults, thick oak doors, and the characteristic Welsch dome.
In front of the tower stands the historic guardhouse from 1751, where tolls were once collected. Two striking sandstone pillars commemorate the former outer gate.
After decades of neglect, the tower has been undergoing voluntary restoration by the Jörg von Nördlingen Ritterschaft Durlach since 2018 and is being preserved as a cultural site.
