Szczebrzeska Gate in Zamość

The Szczebrzeska Gate in Zamość, also known as St. Florian's Gate, is a preserved element of the Old Town's former fortifications, built in the early 17th century during the expansion of Zamość. It is one of the three gates located on the southern line of the walls, leading in a westward direction. In the second half of the 18th century, the gate was rebuilt in the Rococo style, with decorative attics and sculptures added, including one of St. Florian, which was unfortunately destroyed during World War II. The passage through the gate was walled up in 1866, and its style was changed to Classicist in the first half of the 19th century. During the partitions of Poland, the gate housed a prison where Walerian Łukasiński was held. In the interwar period, the gate accommodated the "Sejmikowy" Hotel, and until the 1990s, it served as a police station. Between 2007 and 2009, a comprehensive renovation was carried out as part of a project to conserve the city's fortifications, restoring the gate's historical appearance and reopening the passage. Today, the building houses the Zamość Special Economic Zone office and the "Kosz" Jazz Club. An interesting fact is that the gate was not only a strategic defensive point but also a place that served various social and cultural functions over the centuries.