Pyrzycka Gate in Stargard

The Pyrzycka Gate is one of the four preserved entrance gates to the medieval town of Stargard, located on Mieszko I Street. Since 2010, it has been recognized as a historical monument. Its construction began at the end of the 13th century, and the existing stone section stands 6 meters high. In 1439, brick floors were added, transforming it into a more modern structure. The gate consists of two low towers and a passageway that originally led through a tunnel called the "throat," a drawbridge, and an inner gate closed with a portcullis. In the 20th century, the gate was renovated several times – in the 1950s, it housed the Stargard City Museum, and after restoration between 1991 and 1993, it became part of the Archaeological-Historical Museum, where various educational activities are conducted. Architecturally, the gate features a square base (11x11 m) made of fieldstones and three brick floors, topped with a saddle roof and two gables. The passage has a pointed arch shape and is closed from the outside by a portcullis with a preserved drop slot. The third floor contains a defensive corridor with loopholes, and the façades are decorated with blind windows and loopholes in various architectural forms. An interesting fact is that the gate's foregate was transformed after a fire in 1666 and was finally dismantled at the end of the 19th century. The Pyrzycka Gate is an important part of Stargard's cultural heritage, serving as a testament to medieval defensive architecture and the city's history.