Butchers Gate
Kraków Monuments
A walled-up gate dating from 1289, the oldest gate of medieval Kraków, also called the Butchers' Gate on Gródek or the Gródek Gate; it was part of the city's fortifications, one of the eight defensive gates of Kraków. The road to Sandomierz and Ruthenia ran through it. It was walled up in the 15th century, and when construction of the Dominican Sisters' convent began in 1626 it had long since ceased to serve its purpose. Today its fragments can be seen from the Planty side in the facade of the convent building, and where the gate once stood there is an image of the Virgin adored by St Catherine and St Dominic, known in Kraków as the "Swedish Madonna".
History
The Butchers' Gate (Brama Rzeźnicza), in full the Butchers' Gate at Gródek (Brama Rzeźników na Gródku), is also sometimes called the Gate at Gródek. It is the oldest gate of medieval Kraków and is now walled up. Written sources mention it from 1289. It was part of the city's fortifications and one of Kraków's eight defensive gates.
The gate faced today's Westerplatte Street and stood at the end of Mikołajska Street. The road to Sandomierz and on to Ruthenia passed through it. Its defences included a projecting passage in front of the gate face and an additional gate with a drawbridge spanning the moat.
In the 14th century the end of Mikołajska Street was moved further north and the street itself was slightly bent. The Gate at Gródek was then replaced by St Nicholas' Gate (Brama Mikołajska), which stood next to the fortified Dominican nuns' convent at Gródek. In the 15th century the old gate was walled up. When construction of the Dominican Sisters' convent began in 1626, the gate had long since ceased to serve its purpose, and parts of the defensive walls, together with the gate, were used in building the convent and church.
Today the Butchers' Gate is the second surviving element of the city fortifications, after the stretch of walls by St Florian's Gate. Parts of it can be seen from the Planty Park side in the facade of the convent building. Where the gate once stood there is an image of the Virgin Mary adored by St Catherine and St Dominic, which in Kraków is customarily called the "Swedish Madonna".
Did you know?
St Nicholas' Gate, which replaced the Butchers' Gate, was a twin of St Florian's Gate. The butchers' guild was responsible for defending it, and it was demolished in 1812.