In the 13th century, the Altmühl Gate was built in the north of Kelheim, directly in front of the former bridge that led over the river Altmühl. Back then, the old salt route from Landshut led through the Danube gate into the city, crossed the Danube Lane and the Altmühl Lane and passed through the Altmühl Gate and over the river Altmühl. The river got completely drowned by the constructed Rhine-Main-Danube canal. Therefore, one can now see the canal instead of the river from the Altmühl Gate. The Southern side of the gate shows Kelheim’s coat of arms used from 1410 to 1809 showing a vine twig and grapes. That is because Kelheim was a growing area for vine until the 17th century.
