Golden Gate

Gdańsk

Built in 1612, the Golden Gate was designed by Abraham van den Block, son of the man behind the decoration of the Upland Gate. It's a sort of triumphal arch ornamented with a double-storey colonnade and topped with eight allegorical statues.

The four figures on the side of the Prison Tower represent Peace, Liberty, Wealth and Fame, for which Gdańsk was always struggling to achieve in spite of foreign powers (sometimes including the Polish kings). The sculptures on the opposite side symbolise the burghers' virtues: Wisdom, Piety, Justice and Concord. Today's figures are postwar copies of the 1648 originals.

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Malbork Castle
26.4 MILES
Malbork’s blockbuster attraction is its show-stoppingly massive castle sitting on the banks of the sluggish Nogat River, an eastern arm of the Vistula…
Museum of WWII
0.67 MILES
Opened in 2016, this striking piece of modern architecture is a bold addition to the northern end of Gdańsk's waterfront. It has rapidly become one of…
European Solidarity Centre
0.8 MILES
Opened in 2014, and housed in a truly awful example of 21st-century architecture (its rusty steel plates were designed to evoke ships under construction),…
St Mary's Church
0.22 MILES
Dominating the heart of the Old Town, St Mary’s is often cited as the largest brick church in the world, its massive 78m-high tower dominating the Gdańsk…
Długi Targ
0.28 MILES
Długi Targ was once the main city market and is now the major focus for visitors. Things have gotten a bit touristy here over the last decade (dubious…
National Maritime Museum
0.41 MILES
This is a sprawling exhibition covering Gdańsk's role as a Baltic seaport through the centuries. The headquarters, the multimillion-euro Maritime Cultural…
Ulica Mariacka
0.3 MILES
The most atmospheric of all Gdańsk's streets and one of Poland’s most photogenic lanes is this length of cobbles between the waterfront St Mary’s Gate and…
Artus Court Museum
0.24 MILES
Rising in all its embellished grandeur behind the Neptune Fountain, the Artus Court is perhaps the single best-known house in Gdańsk. The court has been…

View more attractions

Nearby Gdańsk attractions

1. Amber Museum

0.02 MILES

This museum is dedicated to all things amber and the craft of designing and creating amber jewellery. It's located in the Foregate, a former prison and…

2. Foregate

0.03 MILES

The large 15th-century construction known as the Foregate consists of the Torture House (Katownia) to the west and a high Prison Tower (Wieża Więzienna)…

3. Upland Gate

0.05 MILES

This gate at the western end of Royal Way was the traditional entry point for kings. It was built in 1574 as part of the new fortifications, which were…

4. Uphagens' House

0.06 MILES

This historic 18th-century residence features ornate furniture. As you pass beyond the kitchen, take a minute to browse the family tree and history of the…

5. Great Arsenal

0.08 MILES

Ul Piwna terminates at the Great Arsenal, an architectural gem. The work of Antonius van Opbergen, it was built at the beginning of the 17th century and,…

6. Royal Way

0.18 MILES

Lined by the city’s grandest facades, the Royal Way was the route along which the Polish kings traditionally paraded during their periodic visits. Of the…

7. Historical Museum of Gdańsk

0.21 MILES

This museum is located in the historic town hall, which claims Gdańsk’s highest tower at 81.5m. The showpiece is the Red Room (Sala Czerwona), done up in…

8. Town Hall

0.22 MILES

Dominating Długi Targ, Gdańsk's impressive Gothic-Renaissance town hall boasts the city's highest tower at 81.5m. It is home to the Historical Museum of…

View more attractions