The Steinertor is the western mediaeval city gate. Until the middle of the 19th century Krems was still surrounded by its mediaeval city walls but these were systematically destroyed including the three other city gates. The surviving gate with its two satellite Gothic towers was built to defend the city against the army of Matthias Corvinus and bears the motto of Emperor Friedrich III (1457-1493), AEIOU, as well as the date 1480 in roman numerals. This date probably refers to the reconstruction of the city’s fortifications which were destroyed in 1477 by the Hungarians. The building’s Baroque clock tower was added in 1756.
