Swedish Gate, Medieval gate in Old Town, Riga, Latvia.
The Swedish Gate is a medieval stone gate in Riga's Old Town with a pointed arch and brick walls. It once served as a passage through the city's defensive walls and connected different areas of the medieval settlement.
Built in 1698 during Swedish occupation, the gate provided access to military barracks situated beyond the city walls. It remains the only surviving gate from the original city fortifications.
The name reflects the Swedish period when the city was under Nordic control. Visitors can see how the brick construction and archway design mark this specific era of the town's past.
The gate sits on Torņa Street and is easily reachable on foot from other medieval sites in the area. The passageway is freely accessible and serves as a helpful landmark when navigating the Old Town streets.
The bricks vary in color throughout the structure, revealing repair work done across several centuries. This patchwork of different colored stones tells the story of how the gate was maintained over time.
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