The Old Bridge and its wooden predecessors formed the northern main access to the city protected by the bridge gate as seen in this photo. The medieval bridge gate, as part of the fortifications of the town, had survived all the floods and ice canals and, after the construction of the stone bridge, served as a guard house and prison (culprit). In 1788, the peaked conic tops of the pies were replaced by baroque tower helmets.
In the eastern tower, a spiral staircase of sandstone leads into an apartment above the arch of the gate. In the western tower there are three low rooms that used to serve as detention centres. Towards the west, the Kurfürstliche Kornhaus joined the gate. It was destroyed in 1693 and rebuilt in 1897.