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Royal Gate (Szczecin)
The building in 2021.
General information
Type	City gate
Architectural style	Baroque
Location	Szczecin, Poland
Address	8 Prussian Homage Square
Coordinates	53°25′42.40″N 14°33′23.19″E / 53.4284444°N 14.5564417°E / 53.4284444; 14.5564417
Construction started	1725
Completed	1727
Technical details
Floor count	1
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Gerhard Cornelius van Wallrawe
Other designers	Bartholomé Damart Hans Jürgen Reinecke J.H. Trippel

The Royal Gate (Polish: Brama Królewska; German: Königstor), formerly known as the Anklam Gate (Polish: Brama Anklamska, Brama Nakielska; German: Anklamer Tor), and sometimes also referred to as the Prussian Homage Gate (Polish: Brama Hołdu Pruskiego), is a historic Baroque city gate in Szczecin, Poland, located at the Prussian Homage Square (Polish: Plac Hołdu Pruskiego), at the intersection of Matejki Street and Polish Soldier Square. It was constructed by 1725 and 1727, with the project being designed by Gerhard Cornelius van Wallrawe, and its elaborate façade sculptures done by Bartholomé Damart. It served as the nothern entrace to the city, via the fortification walls, until 1841, when they were deconstructed. Curently, it houses a confectionery store.

History

The city gate was constructed between 1725 and 1727, as one of the nothern entrance to the city, and part of the fortification walls. It was protected by the nearby Mill and Kagen bastions. The building was designed by military architect Gerhard Cornelius van Wallrawe. The masonry was done by Hans Jürgen Reinecke, stonemasonry by J.H. Trippel, and the façade sculptures by Bartholomé Damart. It was originally named the Anklam Gatem after the town of Anklam in Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, Germany. It was renamed to the Royal Gate, to commemorate visit of king Frederick William IV of Prussia in 1841. The fortification walls were removed in 1873, with Royal Gate being preserved, and given to the city.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).

In 1954, the building received the status of a protected cultural property, being listed at the Prussian Homage Gate, referring to the homage of 1525, when the Duchy of Prussia became a fiefdom of the Kingdom of Poland.

In 1999, at its west wall was installed a bronze commemorative plaque dedicated to Dezydery Chłapowski, a 19th-century military officer and general of the insurgents forces during the November and Greater Poland Uprising, as well as in the Polish Legions during the Napoleonic Wars. He was sentenced for his participation in the November Uprising, and jailed in the Fort Prussia in Szczecin, located near the gate.

The building was renovated and modernised in 1994. In the 1990s, it was used as an alt gallery, which in 2000 was replaced by a coffeehouse. Since 2017, it houses a confectionery store.

Characteristics

The Royal Gate is a historic Baroque city gate. It is a central object of the Prussian Homage Square (Polish: Plac Hołdu Pruskiego), and placed near the intersection of Matejki Street and Polish Soldier Square. To its north is located the Solidarity Square.

It consists of two gates, connected by a long and wide hallway. Their façade feature elaborate ornamentation. The north gate includes a cartouche above the gate archways, featuring the coat of arms of Prussia, surrounded with the Order of the Black Eagle, and with the royal corwn above it, placed at the backdrop of elaborate panoply. The attic above the cornice of the erntablature features sculptures of Mars with a sword and a shiled, and Hercules with a club and lion pelt. At the top are placed three large sculptures. The central depicts two tied prisoners of war, sitting on the sides a pedestal with a Roman armor displayed on top of it. To the sides are two sets of large panoplies, displaying captured armor and weaponry.

The south gate includes a cartouche with two putti, naked chubby child angels with wings, holding it. The attic and façade to the sides of the entrance, feature elaborate reliefs of panoply, depicting armour, weaponry, shields, and standars. On top are placed three sculptures, with the central depicting a royal crown, and two on its sides are large panoplies.

Its west wall features a bronze commemorative plaque dedicated to Dezydery Chłapowski, a 19th-century military officer and general of the insurgents forces during the November and Greater Poland Uprising, as well as in the Polish Legions during the Napoleonic Wars. He was sentenced for his participation in the November Uprising, and jailed in the Fort Prussia in Szczecin, located near the gate.

Gallery

• The north façade.
• The south façade.

References

1. ^ "Brama Królewska". visitszczecin.eu (in Polish).
2. ^ Cite error: The named reference wzp was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
3. "Rejestr zabytków nieruchomych województwa z wyłączeniem zabytków archeologicznych w powiecie szczecińskim". wkz.bip.alfatv.pl (in Polish).
4. Mariusz Parkitny (31 Ocotber 2017). "Szczecin: Pijalnia Czekolady Wedel w Bramie Królewskiej a klimatyzacja kłuje w oczy". szczecin.naszemiasto.pl (in Polish). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
5. ^ Cite error: The named reference muz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

• 1728 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire
• 1728 establishments in Prussia
• Buildings and structures completed in 1728
• Transport infrastructure completed in 1728
• Military installations established in 1728
• Buildings and structures in Szczecin
• Centrum, Szczecin
• Baroque architecture in Poland
• Objects of cultural heritage in Poland
• City gates
• Gates in Poland