The only surviving gate from Eisenach's medieval town walls, the Nikolai Gate dates to the 12th century and marks the entrance to the historic core of the town. The Romanesque stonework is intact and the passageway through the gate gives a sense of the scale and solidity of medieval fortifications.
Just beyond the gate, the Nikolai Church stands on the site of an older chapel, rebuilt in the 15th century. The old town streets around the gate are worth exploring on foot — there are several good Thuringian restaurants in the immediate vicinity, including the historic wine tavern that has occupied one of the half-timbered buildings since the 18th century.