Golden Gate (Złota Brama)

The Golden Gate (Złota Brama) is the ornate western entrance to the Royal Route in the Main Town of Gdańsk, in Poland's Pomeranian region, standing at the western end of ul. Długa. It was built in 1612-1614 to a design by Abraham van den Blocke, and its Renaissance and Mannerist style reflects the wealth of the city at the time. The gate is a triumphal-arch style structure with a pair of arched passages. On the Long Market side, the facade carries statues of allegorical figures representing virtues such as peace, freedom, wealth and fame, while the outer side carries a more restrained decoration. A Latin inscription and gilded details give the gate its name. The gate was heavily damaged in 1945 and rebuilt in the decades afterwards. Standing beside it are the Court of St. George, a former fraternity house of the Artus brotherhood with a Gothic and Renaissance facade, and the Torture House and prison tower, which today house a museum of the city. Visitors normally stop for around 15 minutes to admire the sculptural details, read the inscription and pass through the gate to start a walk along Długa Street and Long Market toward the river. The exterior is free and accessible at all hours. The best photo angle is from a little way along Długa Street looking west, with the gate framing the view, and from the Long Market side to capture the statues up close. Morning is the best time, when the light falls on the Long Market facade and the crowds are thin. By late morning in the summer months, guided groups gather in front of the gate and the passage can get congested. Evening visits are also pleasant, when the gate is lit. The gate is a short walk from the Brama Wyżynna tram stop and from the Gdańsk Główny railway station, so it is often the first stop of a walking tour of the Old Town.