Frauentorturm (Women's Gate Tower), Nuremberg

The Women's Gate Tower (Frauentorturm), also historically known as the "Blau Q," stands as a significant medieval landmark in Nuremberg. This tower is one of the four major towers that were integral to the fortifications of Nuremberg’s Old Town. Positioned on the southeastern side, it was strategically placed to guard the Frauentor, or Women's Gate, which was a crucial entry point into the city from the route leading to Regensburg.

The name 'Frauentor' is derived from its proximity to the Klarakloster, the Poor Clare Convent of Saint Klara, hinting at the historical significance of the area in terms of both defense and local culture. Documentation regarding the construction of the Frauentorturm is sparse, but payment records to the gatekeeper from as early as 1386 suggest that the gate was operational by this time, marking the likely completion of its construction.

Originally, the tower formed part of an earlier phase of the city walls before being replaced by the current structure following the demolition of the inner Frauentor in 1498—a change coinciding with the construction of The Mauthalle, the city’s customs house. In 1558, the Frauentorturm underwent significant remodeling to achieve its present-day rounded shape, which included the addition of a side gate.

With the completion of the Königstor in 1849, the Frauentor was relegated to managing outgoing traffic. In contemporary times, the gate is exclusively pedestrian and hosts the Nuremberg Crafts Yard within what was once its armory, providing a vibrant cultural and commercial space for both locals and visitors.

Due to its prominent location opposite the Central Railway Station, the Women's Gate Tower is often one of the first historical sights encountered by visitors arriving in Nuremberg by train, serving as a striking introduction to the city’s rich medieval heritage.