Green Gate of Gdansk

Green Gate at dusk, Gdansk

So, today we are visiting Green Gate. To tell you the truth, no-one really knows why it is called Green Gate. Some speculate the name comes from the color of window glass, or wooden gate. However most probable is that the name comes from the color of stone used as a building material.

Green Gate, Gdansk

The Green Gate comes at the end of Long Market and it is situated by Motlawa river. From this point you can stroll by the river on the Motlawa Long Embankment, or go around Granary Island.

Green Gate, view from Long Market

One thing is certain, the gate was build in 1564 -1568 by Ragnier from Amsterdam and Hans Kramer from Dresden. The gate is kept in Netherlands Mannerism style. Originally this is the starting point of Royal Route, which is known now as Long Market (Dlugi Targ) and Long Lane (ulica Dluga).

The arcades of Green Gate

Some people think that the gate was build for royal family. This isn't entirely true. Primarily the building was used as public space, where various celebrations took place. Also city guards and nightwatchman stationed there. On 9th of February 1570 a transfer ceremony was held, when the building was handed to Polish royal family. Unfortunately no royal member of Polish monarchs ever stayed in the Green Gate (except future wife of Polish king - Marie Louise Gonzaga, who stayed in the gate a little over a week).

Birdview of Green Gate, Old Gdansk

The gate originally had only three arcades, the forth one was build in 1883. Of course it was richly decorated, with statues, busts and crests. Novelty of the building are the bricks that were used to build it. The bricks are of smaller that normal size, that were brought from Amsterdam in ships as ballast.

Green Gate at night, Gdansk

Nowadays it is a house for exhibitions held by National Museum and street musicians. Almost always when strolling in the area, you can stumble upon musicians playing in one of the arcades. Therefore today I had a pleasure of taking pictures to sweet sound of Lord of the Ring track, performed by some kind of violin and guitar combo. I can't say it was unpleasant :)

The orchestra at Green Gate :)

Och, one more thing. Originally the building was heavily decorated with statues and other carvings. I read that there were 7 crests (of Gdansk, Poland, Royal Prussia and Hohenzollern Dynasty) also 20 figures at the tops, 4 busts in cartouches, 4 busts in tondos and 12 heads over tondos. If you find yourself having a stroll by the Green Gate, check if they are still there.

Green Gate, view from Motlawa river

The Teutonic Knights Castle of Gdansk

The Teutonic Knights Castle of Gdansk Panorama

So I got inspired by one post of my new friends of Gdańsk, Danzig, Gdansk, Freie Stadt Danzig. So inspired that I immediately wanted act on my inspiration. You can certainly guess that the post was about Teutonic Knights castle of Gdansk.

"Swan Tower" post Teutonic

Wow, I thought, Gdansk finally is going to be one of the cities that have castles. I mean, nowadays cities can get anything: skyscrapers, shopping malls, even lakes,but not castles. Like the old medieval ones. I am sure you understand how exiting it was, Gdansk would advance in city ranks for sure.

Fortification Wall, Gdansk

The good news is that not all cities of the world had Teutonic Knights castle within the city limits. The bad news is that all that is left of Teutonic Knights castle is a tower and a little wall. I say, better this than nothing :)

Mighty Teutonic Tower :)

The history of Teutonic Knights Castle is quite rich and starts in X century, with wooden castle which didn't belong to Teutonic Knights at all. Well, calling it castle is a little of overstatement. It was more like a fortified manor house. In XII century, as a celebration of Pomerelia joining Poland, two brick structures where added: a church and a tower (that beside serving defence purposes, was also used by prince and his family as their private quarters when they came to visit).

This isn't Teutonic wall, but we can pretend it is:) right?

So, how the Teutonic Knights did take over the castle? In 1308 Gdansk was attacked by Brandenburg Margraves and since Gdansk couldn't fight them off, they hired help: the Teutonic Knights.

Panorama of former grounds of the Teutonic Knights Castle in Gdansk

The Teutonic Knights did fight the other army off, but they didn't leave. Instead they took over the castle, and started adding buildings and fortifications. When they finished the upper castle consisted of: infirmary, kitchen with chamber, the commander chamber, bath house, cellar, armory, dormitories, church with library, chapter house, refectory, and a bakery.

Supposed map of the castle grouds, source: zamki.pl

The word consisted of: woodshed, granaries, grindery, cloakroom attendant storerooms, forge, workshops, stables. All of it was of course surrounded by curtain, donjon, towers. They were fully equipped too. From registry we know they stored, among others, crossbows, bolts, bombard, saltpeter and of course helmets and other armour and weapons.

Supposed view of the castle, source: altiok.blox.pl

Not only did they have the "state of the art" castle. The fact of Gdansk being the hub of transport and trade, made this Teutonic Knights Castle one of the richest and most influential. 

The Teutonic Knights actual wall, Gdansk

The rule of Teutonic Knights in Gdansk came to an end in XV century. The clever people of Gdansk then proceeded to demolish some of the fortification, and then rebuilding it back (like the only tower that still remains to this day). 

The tower, view from the other side 

Unfortunately nobody knows how the castle really looked like. The only painting that portraying the castle was destroyed in WWII. Thanks a lot!

The Teutonic Tower up close

There you have it, the one and only mysterious castle that, well still exists within the city. The most obvious is the tower, and piece of curtain. I read that some pieces of fortification are still embedded in walls of nearby restaurant, and also remember that hotel by the tower is build on foundations of the castle.