St. Florian's Gate in Krakow

The Florian Gate, located in the Old Town of Kraków, is a medieval city gate with a tower, forming part of the preserved city walls. It stands 34.5 meters tall and is distinguished by a bas-relief of the Piast eagle, created in 1882 by Zygmunt Langman on the commission of Jan Matejko. On the city side, there is an 18th-century bas-relief of St. Florian. The baroque top of the gate dates back to 1660, and the gate portal is accompanied by grooves for a portcullis, indicating its defensive function. Inside the gate, there is a classicist altar from the early 19th century with a late baroque copy of the painting of Our Lady of the Sands. Historically, the gate has been known since the 13th century and served as an important point on the route to Kleparz, as well as the starting point of the Royal Route to Wawel Castle. Its oldest form dates back to the turn of the 12th and 14th centuries, and in the 16th century, it was used as city stables. It underwent a major renovation in the 18th century, and in the 19th century, it faced the threat of demolition. Fortunately, this was prevented thanks to the efforts of Professor Feliks Radwański and later Prince Władysław Czartoryski, who established the Czartoryski Chapel in the tower. In the 1920s, attempts were made to adapt the gate for electric tram lines, which ultimately saved it from being dismantled. Today, the Florian Gate is part of the popular tourist route known as the Defensive Walls, serving not only as a valuable element of Kraków's architectural heritage but also as a testament to historical events and efforts to preserve medieval fortifications.