gate tower

{{Short description|Fortified tower at a major gateway}}

{{For|the building in Japan|Gate Tower Building}}

{{More citations needed|date=April 2022}}

A gate tower is a tower built over or next to a major gateway.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/604518608 |title=Burgen und feste Plätze : europäischer Wehrbau vor Einführung der Feuerwaffen : systematisches Fachwörterbuch = Châteaux-forts et places fortes : architecture militaire européenne avant l'introduction des armes à feu : dictionnaire spécialisé et systématique = Castles and fortified places : European military architecture before the introduction of firearms : specialized and systematic dictionary. |date=1996 |publisher=K.G. Saur |isbn=978-3-11-097269-6 |edition=3., neu bearbeitete und erw. Aufl |location=München |oclc=604518608}}

Usually it is part of a medieval fortification. This may be a town or city wall, fortress, castle or castle chapel. The gate tower may be built as a twin tower on either side of an entranceway. Even in the design of modern building complexes, gate towers may be constructed symbolically as a main entrance. The gate tower can also stand as a twin tower on both sides of a gate system. Gate towers are also used symbolically as the main entrance in the design of modern building complexes. The Kasselburg in Rhineland-Palatinate has a double tower gate tower, which was also used as a residential tower.