High Gate in Darłowo

The High Gate in Darłowo, also called the Stone or Brick Gate, is a historic town gate from the 14th century. It is the only one of the four gates of Darłowo's former walls to survive. It stands about 120 metres north of the main market square, on Powstańców Warszawskich Street. It was entered in the heritage register together with a remnant of the defensive walls (no. 93 of 25 May 1955).

The only one of four gates

The gate is part of the town walls, which no longer exist, the trace of which survives in the name and semicircular shape of Wałowa Street. It served defensive, representative and observation purposes. The heritage register dates it to the 14th-15th century.

Construction and rebuilding

The gate stands on a square plan and has four storeys. Most of the bricks are laid in Wendish bond, and in the upper part a later Gothic bond was used. The passage is crowned with a pointed arch, and the wall is decorated with tall blind recesses and small pointed-arch windows. The roof is hipped, tent-shaped, and arrow loops have survived inside. On the north the building is reinforced by buttresses.

The gate was rebuilt many times. Its present shape comes from a renovation in 1732, as shown by iron rods on the façade that form that date.

Practical information

• Location: the end of Powstańców Warszawskich Street, about 120 metres from Plac Tadeusza Kościuszki.
• According to the Wikipedia entry the building is privately owned, so the interiors are not open to visitors. The building is best viewed from the street.
• By the market square, about 200 metres from the gate, stand the Town Hall and St Mary's Church.