Foregate Complex and Highland Gate

The Foregate Complex at Targ Weglowy in Gdansk, Poland, forms the western entrance to the Main Town and belongs to the Royal Way. It consists of the Highland Gate, the Prison Tower and the Torture House, which together functioned as defensive and judicial structures from the 14th to the 16th centuries. The Prison Tower and Torture House date to the Gothic period, when they were part of the city's fortifications and later housed the prison, courtroom and torture chamber of the city. The Highland Gate was rebuilt in 1574 to 1576 by the Flemish architect Wilhelm van den Meer in the style of a Renaissance triumphal arch. Its decorations include the coats of arms of Poland, Prussia and Gdansk, and the gate was the ceremonial entrance for visiting rulers. The complex shows the shift from medieval defence to symbolic representation in the Renaissance. The buildings were damaged in 1945, and reconstruction followed the war. Today the Prison Tower and Torture House are part of the Museum of Gdansk and present exhibitions on the history of justice and punishment in the city, with tools, historic documents and reconstructed interiors. The exhibition approach is thematic, covering the court procedures and the layout of the cells. The Amber Museum is also housed in the complex in the Prison Tower area, and the structure combines medieval brickwork and Renaissance stonework. The complex is easy to reach from the Gdansk railway station and the Amber Market, and it is a convenient starting point for the walk along Dluga Street toward the Main Town Hall. Visitors should note that some displays can be dark and graphic in subject.