Monastery Gate

The Monastic Gate or the Holy Spirit Gate is one of the three preserved city gates from the port side on the Vistula. Under the Gate, there is an air raid shelter from 1943 open to the public.

Built in the early fourteenth century and built on around 1420, the structure still retains its Gothic shape with three ogival niches. In the past, in the outer niche was placed a wooden harrow, that was put down during raids on the city. Between the second and the third niche, there was an empty space with a hole in the roof, called “porridge”, because from this place, boiling porridge or oil were poured over the heads of the attackers. In the third bay there was a wooden portal equipped with metal fittings, closed during night hours.

In the 19th century, the gate was deprived of defensive functions, rebuilt and adapted for residential purposes. Interesting is the legend associated with the monument, referring to the former Benedictine monastery, from which the building took its name. Apparently, once a good nun lived in it, Katarzyna, who during the period of famine found in the monastic cellars a barrel with gingerbread cake, which saved the lives of thousands of residents. Known as “Katarzynki”, gingerbread in the shape of six connected rings are today the symbol of Toruń.