Market Gate in Elbląg

The Market Gate in Elbląg (Brama Targowa, sometimes listed as the Market Tower) is the only surviving gate of the city's medieval walls and its best-loved symbol. The 26-meter Gothic brick tower with its clock closes the northern end of the Old Town's main street, and at its foot stands a statue of the Little Baker, the boy who, legend says, saved Elbląg from the Teutonic Knights. In summer you can climb to the top floor for a view over the rebuilt Old Town.

Where it is

Elbląg (say "EL-blonk") lies in northern Poland, about 60 km southeast of Gdańsk – roughly an hour by car on the S7 or a short train ride via Malbork. The gate stands at the north end of Stary Rynek street, about fifteen minutes on foot from the railway station, and makes the natural starting point for a walk through the Old Town.

History of the Market Gate

Work on the lower part of the gate began in the early 14th century; sources differ: 1319 or slightly earlier dates. The original structure was about 13 meters tall. Between 1420 and 1430 it was raised to its present 26 meters, with seven floors inside and 138 steps.

A merchant named Isaak Spiering paid for a public clock in 1639, and in 1755 the tower gained a Baroque cupola and a viewing terrace. When demolition was planned in 1805, townspeople petitioned to save it, largely because of that clock. Badly damaged in 1945, the gate was rebuilt as early as 1948–1949 in its medieval form, with a hipped roof. The current clock was a gift in 2000 from Ortwin Runde, a former mayor of Hamburg, a gesture linking the city's German past and Polish present. An EU-funded renovation followed in 2006.

The legend of the Little Baker

According to local legend, Teutonic troops launched a night attack in 1521 (on March 8). A young baker's apprentice spotted them and, as they reached the gate, cut the rope holding the portcullis with his wooden bread peel. The grille crashed down and the town was saved. Historians are not sure it really happened, but the story is cherished: look for peel-shaped marks on the gate's north side. The bronze statue of the boy with his peel is the Old Town's favorite photo spot, and more than a dozen tiny Little Baker figurines are hidden around nearby streets, perfect for a treasure hunt with kids.

Visiting: hours and tickets

According to the city's 2025 guide, the gate is open to visitors in the summer season with free admission, and the top floor serves as a lookout. No official opening hours for 2026 have been published, and older listings such as "daily 10 am–6 pm" should not be relied on.

As of October 2026, do not count on getting inside during winter 2026/27. Call the tourist information office at Stary Rynek 25 (tel. +48 55 239 33 77) before you go. The exterior can be admired at any time and is floodlit in the evening. The narrow stairs are not wheelchair accessible. For a higher panorama, the St. Nicholas Cathedral tower terrace, about 300 m away, opens May to September.

Is it worth visiting?

Yes, as part of an Old Town walk: fifteen minutes is enough for the gate and statue, around half an hour if it is open and you climb up. Continue along Stary Rynek to the cathedral, the medieval Church Path, Galeria EL and the Archaeological and Historical Museum by the river.