Description of the attraction
The Renaissance Brama Vyzhinna (translated into Russian - "Upper" or "Upper Gate") is located on Waly Jagiellonske Street, which appeared on the site of a buried city ditch that until the 19th century surrounded the city of Gdansk. Together with the moat, filled with water, the earthen ramparts were also destroyed. The gate, which once served as a gateway to the city from the west, is considered the conditional beginning of the Royal Route leading to the Green Gate. The inhabitants of the city gathered here to greet the rulers who solemnly entered through Brama Vyzhinna.
The gate, built in the style of a triumphal one, has a main passage and two side passages. The Saxon architect Hans Kramer worked on their form and construction in 1571-1576. The facades are designed by Willem van den Block.
The main frieze of Brama Vyzhinna is decorated with several coats of arms, among which one can distinguish the emblem of the Prussian Kingdom, the Polish state, or more precisely, the coat of arms of the Poniatowski family, and the city of Gdansk. Bas-reliefs with coats of arms can be seen on many buildings and structures of the city, but on the Upper Gate they look the most impressive and striking in their size.
The former existence of the defensive ditch is reminiscent of the devices still on the gates. With their help, they once set in motion as many as three bridges, which served as a passage over a moat 50 meters wide.
Wise sayings in Latin, glorifying just politicians who make decisions for the prosperity of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, complement this decor.
The reverse side of the gate is also decorated with the image of the coat of arms, however, here you can see the symbol of Prussia of the Hohenzollerns.
Currently, the gate houses a tourist office.
