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Mariacka Gate and Mariacka Street

Mariacka Gate (Brama Mariacka) is slightly younger than Brama Chlebnicka it was founded at the end of the 15th century, but it represents the features of the same architectural style, that is the Flemish Gothic. However, unlike Chlebnicka Gate, it has not been preserved in its present form since the Middle Ages. Destroyed during World War II, it was rebuilt only between 1958-1961. The gate lost its defensive character quite early and in the 16th century it was adapted for housing purposes.

Motława is decorated with three coats of arms: the Commonwealth, Royal Prussia and Gdansk. The coat of arms of Gdansk (placed also above the crossing from the side of Mariacka Street) has a newer form than the one on Chlebnicka Gate. It was given to the city by Kazimierz Jagiellończyk, crowning the two crosses with a royal crown.

Passing Brama Mariacka or St. Mary’s Gate from the Motława side, you enter Mariacka Street (ulica Mariacka) directly to St. Mary’s Church. To make it even more “miraculous”, the street is located in the former “St Mary’s Quarter”. At that time, however, when this part of the city was called in this way, the street was called Panieńska and it was much shorter because it was not accessible to Motława due to the waterlogged area. There were numerous shoemaking workshops here.