Golden Gate (Gdańsk)

The Golden Gate (Polish: Złota Brama; German: Langgasser Tor) in Gdańsk (former German name: Danzig), Poland, is one of the most notable tourist attractions of the city.

It was created in 1612–14 in place of a 13th-century gothic gate, the Brama Długouliczna (Long Street Gate). It is located at one end of Long Lane (ulica Długa; German: Langgasse), where, together with Brama Wyżynna (German: Hohes Tor = High Gate) and Wieża Więzienna (German: Stockturm = Prison Tower), it forms a part of the old city fortifications.

It was designed by architect Abraham van den Blocke and was built by Jan Strakowski. The architectural style of the gate is Dutch mannerism. Next to it is the late-gothic building of the Brotherhood of St.George.

Both sides of the gate have attiques, with figures symbolizing the qualities of the ideal citizen. They were designed in 1648 by Jeremias Falck ("Polonus"), and reconstructed in 1878 due to the originals being damaged by weathering over time.

From the West side they represent (in Latin): Pax (Peace), Libertas (Freedom), Fortuna (Wealth) and Fama (Fame). From the East (Long Lane) side they are Concordia (Agreement), Iustitia (Justice), Pietas (Piety) and Prudentia (Prudency). The Latin inscription on the gates reads: Concordia res publicæ parvæ crescunt – discordia magnæ concidunt ("In agreement small republics grow, because of disagreement great republics fall").

The gate was largely destroyed by Soviet shelling in World War II, but was rebuilt in 1957. Although most artifacts of Germanness were eradicated after the city became Polish in 1945, an original German inscription on the gate was restored in the 1990s: Es müsse wohl gehen denen, die dich lieben. Es müsse Friede sein inwendig in deinen Mauern und Glück in deinen Palästen ("They shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces." – Psalm 122)