Back to main menu | to historical-architechtural sights

It is a part of the defensive and hydroengineering system of the Polish Gate, that refers to the low north-western city fortifications, located in the riverside of the canyon. The system was formed on the basis of the defensive wall of the XIII century. Originally, the Polish Gate with total length of 200 m, consisted of four towers, barbican and the defensive walls, connecting them. One of them crossed the river-bed and was with sluice device. In the middle of the XVI century, at the entrance, near the rock, the casemate was built. At the end of the XVII century, the fortifications on the riverside were partly ruined. At the beginning of the XVIII century, the road, leading to the gate was transported from the right bank to the left one. The bridge was built for approach to the gate. It was restored in the second half of the XVIII century. In 1834, the coastal constructions, including the Coastal Tower, were partly demolished. In the first quarter of the XX century, simultaneously with the raise of the level of the road in front of the bridge, the right bank fortifications, except the Rock Tower, were filled up.
The ruins of the Coastal Tower are opened from the side of the River Smotrych now. The Tower is round in its plan with the column in the centre and right angle in the eastern side. The first tier remained to the height of 5 m from the side of the road, and 2-2,5 m - from the side of the river. The walls, 2,5 m thick, are made of stone. Three loopholes partly remained and the entrance to the gallery fully remained from the southward. A part of the tower, that goes under the road, is not opened yet.
In 1964, the conservation works were carried out in the complex, in 1969-1977, the restoration works were carried out there.
The Polish Gate as the defensive and hydroengineering system are unique at their design and creation. There is no such works of the engineering and fortification art of the XV-XVI centuries in the Eastern Europe.

��������� ������������������ � ����������� ���������� ���; (��. �����.-�������): � 4-� �./ ��. ������.: �.�. ������� (��. ���.) � ��. - �.: ����������, 1983-1986.

Translated by Yana Anufriyeva
mail to: [email protected]