Lower Gate in Gdańsk

The Low Gate, also known as Lege-Tor, is one of Gdańsk's valuable historic gates, located in the Old Suburb (Stare Przedmieście). Built between 1623 and 1638 during a period of intensive city fortification efforts, it is an example of modern defensive architecture from that era. It was part of a larger fortification system that included fourteen bastions of the Old Dutch type, designed by Cornelius van den Bosch. The gate, constructed by Jan Strakowski, provided access to Gdańsk from the direction of the Żuławy region. It features a brick wall faced with decorative stone on the exterior, and its central carriageway, two side pedestrian passages, and a guardhouse atop the rampart crown reflect the advanced architectural solutions of the Renaissance period. The Low Gate was one of the four main city gates, connecting to the surrounding ramparts and bastions. During World War II, it suffered minor damage, but thanks to conservation work carried out between 2015 and 2016, it regained its former splendor. An interesting fact is that it is the only gate in Gdańsk through which regular road traffic still passes. Planned changes in its surroundings, such as a bypass route, are still underway due to heritage protection considerations. Nearby, other historic structures like the White Tower (Baszta Biała) and the Small Armory (Mała Zbrojownia) can be found, underscoring the gate’s importance in Gdańsk’s historical and cultural context.