Rotes Tor, Ilanz

The historic "Red Gate" has nothing to do with "red" political views. Rather with the bright red plaster of the masonry. The town of Ilanz had been enclosed by a ring wall since 1289. The population used four gates to get in and out of the city: the Upper Gate (Romansh: Porta Sura), the Red Gate (Porta Cotschna), the Lower Gate (Porta Sut) and the Black Gate (Porta Nera).

From 1713 to 1717, like the other three, the Porta Cotschna, located in the northwest corner of the ring wall, was renovated. This and the Obertor are now among the sights of the old town of Ilanz.

Text: Municipality of Ilanz/Glion