St. Florian's Gate — Attraction in Krakow

The tower, first mentioned in 1307, had been built as part of a protective rampart around Kraków after the Tatar attack of 1241 which destroyed most of the city. The permit for the construction of new city defenses featuring stone watchtowers, fortified gates and a moat was issued by Prince Leszek II the Black in 1285. The gate named after St. Florian became the main entryway to the Old Town. It was connected by a long bridge to the circular barbican (Barbakan) erected of brick on the other side of the moat. The Gate was manned by the Kraków Furriers Guild. According to records, by 1473 there were 17 towers defending the city; a century later, there were 33. At the height of its existence, the wall featured 47 watchtowers and eight gates. Also, in 1565–66 a municipal arsenal was built next to St. Florian's Gate.

The Gate tower is 33.5 metres tall. The Baroque metal "helmet" that crowns the gate, constructed in 1660 and renovated in 1694, adds another metre to the height of the gate. Brama Floriańska is the only city gate, of the original eight built in the Middle Ages, that was not dismantled during the 19th-century "modernization" of Kraków. The adjoining city walls and two additional, smaller towers had been preserved and today host street displays of amateur art available for purchase.

The south face of St. Florian's Gate is adorned with an 18th-century bas-relief of St. Florian. The tower's north face bears a stone eagle that was carved in 1882 by Zygmunt Langman, based on a design by painter Jan Matejko. Inside the gate is an altar with a late-Baroque copy of a classicist painting of the...

I stand, the Florian Gate, a sentinel in stone, Since thirteen hundred, I've watched the seeds of ages sown. My ancient arch, a frame through which the world has streamed, A silent witness to all that humankind has dreamed. I've known the measured tread of kings, in velvet, gold, and might, Their crowns a glinting promise in the fading, medieval light. Then royalty in coaches, a flash of jeweled grace, Each face a fleeting portrait, leaving not a trace. The weary steps of pilgrims, dust-worn, humble, slow, Their prayers a whispered echo, where the sacred breezes blow. And diplomats, with secrets sealed in parchment, firm, and grand, The weight of nations carried in the clasping of a hand. From distant lands, the travelers arrived, with curious, eager eyes, Their stories told in languages beneath these Polish skies. Then tourists with their cameras, capturing what they see, A modern hum, a different rhythm, flowing through and past me. All have come and gone, a ceaseless, flowing tide, Through centuries unchanging, by my ancient, steadfast side. I’ve seen the rise of empires, the quiet fall of dust, The laughter and the sorrow, the fleeting of all trust. It's humanity on the move, a tapestry unbound, Each soul a thread that passes, without a single sound. The passing of the ages, a whisper and a shout, The passing of generations, as they come and move about. Oh, it's a tall, tall tale my stones could well impart, Of humankind's long journey, viewed from my enduring heart. For I am the Florian Gate, rooted firm and deep, Still watching, still remembering, the secrets that I keep.

(Michael Koh...

The gate is found at the north end of the historic district and is a must-see historical site, especially for those interested in 14th century Polish history. It’s like travelling back in time to get a glimpse of what it must have been like in medieval times. The gate is in fantastic condition, but we do not know how much of the gate is original. The gate, which was part of the old city’s defensive walls, is worth the visit, if only to see it from the outside. To go inside the actual gate, you will need to purchase a ticket, which is good for both St. Florian’s Gate and Krakow Barbican. The ticket price is very cheap, so it is totally worth the visit. Make sure you also visit the Barbican, which is located just north of the gate. There is also a small chapel located just above the gate’s arch. We loved taking the walk along the gate’s inner walls and imaging what it was like back then, all the echoes of knights, merchants, and traders that once passed through...