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Green Gate and Green Bridge

Zielona Brama or Green Gate is the largest, oldest and most beautiful building of this type in Gdansk. It was erected between 1564-1568 in the place where Długi Targ reaches Motława. It connects the City with Spichrzów or Granary Island together with Zielony Most or Green Bridge. Formerly, the gate greeted visitors to the city arriving along the Royal Route from nearby Elbląg and further to the east of Królewiec. Initially, it had three passages; however, in the second half of the nineteenth century, the fourth was also pierced in the place where the Waga Miejska or City Scale was located, once serving the merchants in their transactions.

In the assumption, the impressive Green Gate building was to be the seat of the Third Order, i.e. a hundredperson representation of merchants and craftsmen in the city authorities. However, these plans were quickly changed and the residential part expanded to accommodate the kings visiting Gdansk. Unfortunately, as sources claim, no ruler in the Green Gate has lived for longer. The gate therefore had various other functions for example, the armory, but also places for revelries, feasts and demonstrations (on the second floor there is a huge, 300 square meter hall lit up on all sides with 25 windows). In the nineteenth century, the Green Gate was rebuilt several times, once being changed, it again was restored to its former appearance. The Natural History Society was located here, and so was the Natural History Museum until the outbreak of World War II. After the war (and reconstruction from destruction) the Office of Conservation of Monuments was located in the Green Gate, and presently there is a branch of the National Museum and the Gdansk Gallery of Photography.

If someone wanted to find out which was first the Green Gate or the Green Bridge they would have trouble with this riddle. Both buildings were built on the site of the earlier Koga Gate and Koga Bridge, which were partially pulled down to erect new constructions according to the architectural trends that were fashionable in the 16th century (in the style of Dutch Mannerism). It is much easier to explain the mysterious names of both buildings that the Green Bridge gave part of its name to the Green Gate, which, as can be seen, has nothing to do with greenery. In contrast, the bridge was green from the beginning this is the shade used for the stones used for its construction (and to this day the green algae grows on it) Green Bridge is the oldest of its kind in Gdansk. It is worth mentioning that it was built as a drawbridge (moreover, like all Gdansk bridges), thanks to which it was possible to freely use the main trade route of Gdansk, which was Motława. It was only after the war that this practical function of the bridge was withdrawn. How is it possible that you can now sail under it without lifting the span? Is it another puzzle? No, just our galley boat, and most of the boats sailing on the Motława today have no sails.