Fortifications

Ziebice Gate in Grodkow

Why visit

The Ziebice Gate is one of Grodkow’s two surviving medieval gate structures and a clear reminder of the town’s former defensive system. It makes a worthwhile stop on an old-town walk: the modest tower shows how a defensive building was later given a more representative Renaissance appearance.

What you will see

The tower was erected in the mid-14th century as the western gate of the town. It is built of brick, has an almost square plan and retains a pointed-arch passage. Narrow loopholes and window openings, brick details and a Renaissance attic are visible on the elevations. Around 1600 the tower was raised and remodelled in Renaissance forms; further work followed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its name recalls the road that once led from here towards Ziebice.

Visiting information

The gate stands on Warszawska Street, near the pedestrian promenade and the parish church of St Michael the Archangel. It is primarily viewed from the outside; no regular opening hours for the interior or permanent ticket office are confirmed. Exterior viewing is free. A short stop is enough, although a walk along the surviving walls is more comfortable in sturdy shoes. Take care around traffic and during events in the town centre.

Nearby

The Ziebice Gate is a useful starting point for a walk through Grodkow. Add the Lewin Gate, the Prison Tower, surviving fragments of the town walls, the market square and St Michael’s Church to your route. If you hope to enter the tower or visit a town-centre event, check current municipal information before travelling.