Green Gate, City gate and museum on Długi Targ, Gdańsk, Poland
The Green Gate is a Renaissance city gate in Gdansk that closes off the Long Market toward the Motlawa River and has four wide passages for foot and cart traffic. The building rises several stories high and is topped with ornamental gables decorated with relief work and sculptures.
The Green Gate was built between 1564 and 1568 to replace an older medieval gate that controlled access to the city harbor. Architects Regnier and Hans Kramer drew on Flemish models, giving the structure a look that was unusual for Poland at the time.
The Green Gate takes its name from the green-painted wooden doors that once closed its four passages. Today the building hosts rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, which stand out against the ornate Renaissance stonework inside.
The Green Gate stands at the end of the Long Market and directly on the Motlawa riverbank, making it easy to reach on foot from the old town. The interior is open as a museum, and a visit pairs well with a walk along the riverside promenade nearby.
Although the building was planned as a royal residence, only one monarch ever stayed there: Queen Marie Louise Gonzaga spent a night in 1646 on her way to marry King Wladyslaw IV. After that single royal visit, the building never again served as lodging for a ruler.
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