Osthofentor
Late Gothic town gate in Soest with a museum on the history of the town and its defenses, plus some 25,000 medieval crossbow bolts.
About the museum
The Osthofentor is the only surviving one of Soest’s ten former town gates. It was built between 1523 and 1526 under master builder Porphyrius von Neuenkirchen from local greensand stone, replacing an earlier structure. The late Gothic gate tower was the inner gate of an extensive complex with an outer gate, a zwinger (outer ward), ramparts, and moats, which was part of the town fortifications built from 1180 onward.
When the railroad facilities were expanded around 1890, a large part of the fortifications disappeared, but the gate tower remained standing. Between 1971 and 1980, the facade and interior were extensively restored; at the beginning of 1982, the town of Soest set up a museum inside.
The exhibition is spread over three levels: in the guardroom with its fireplace, models, seals, and coins provide an overview of around a thousand years of town history; the armory is devoted to medieval fortification and defensive techniques; and the gallery in the attic explores the social and economic development of Soest. The centerpiece is a large display case with around 25,000 crossbow bolts from the 14th to 16th centuries. They come from the former municipal arsenal in the tower of St. Patroklus Cathedral (Patroklidom) and are considered the largest collection of its kind in the world. Admission has been free since April 2023; the museum operates seasonally during the summer half of the year.
Highlights
- Around 25,000 crossbow bolts from the 14th to 16th centuries
- Late Gothic gate tower of greensand stone (1523–1526)
- Historic guardroom with fireplace
- Models, seals, and coins covering a thousand years of Soest’s history
- Free admission
Permanent exhibitions
- Stadt- und Wehrgeschichte im Osthofentor – Across three levels of the gate tower, the exhibition covers a thousand years of Soest’s urban development, medieval defensive techniques, and the famous collection of crossbow bolts.
- Founded
- 1982
- Operated by
- Stadt Soest
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
| Groups | –Guided tours (approx. 45 minutes, max. 30 people) free of charge by advance booking with Tourist-Information Soest. |
|---|
Free admission since April 1, 2023.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
No official information on accessibility; the exhibition is spread over three levels in the medieval gate tower.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Getting there & parking
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
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| Good to know | Guided tours (approx. 45 minutes, up to 30 people, free of charge) by booking with Tourist-Information Soest, tel. 02921 103-6110, willkommen@soest.de. A virtual 3D tour of the gate tower is available online. |
