Kněžská brána, Medieval gate in Žatec, Czech Republic

Kněžská brána is a three-story passage tower built around 1360, 17.5 meters high on an irregular 10 by 6.5 meter plan. It stands askew to the wall line because the approach road from the Ohře ran diagonally. A stone staircase entered from the town side, and a projecting latrine bay sat on the south side of the second floor.

Built around 1360, this gate was one of only two surviving entrances from the original four medieval gates that defended the fortified city of Žatec. Over the centuries, it remained a key part of the town's structure through wars and urban changes.

The inner walls of the gate display inscriptions that recall Žatec's historical importance as a trading and political center. These marks show how this passage served as a symbol of the city's identity and protection.

The gate is easily accessible on foot and stands at the heart of Žatec's old town near the main square, where it is visible from several angles. The surrounding area features paved streets that allow comfortable viewing from different approaches.

The gate stands on the site of the main entrance to an early medieval hillfort, where a path climbed from the ford over the Ohře. Archaeology near the north facade of the main town church uncovered the foundations of a 10th-century wooden palace whose front faced today's gate, so the gate had several predecessors before the mid-14th century.