Sailors' Gate

The Sailing Gate is one of the three city gates of Toruń that was preserved to this day. It owes its present shape to the reconstruction made in the 19th century, but its history goes much further back to the 14th century, when it was built and was the most representative entrance to the city.

The passage connecting the port with the street leading to the main square of the city and the parish church near it was crossed by Polish kings visiting Toruń. They were hosted in the special chambers of the royal town hall. Thus, in the past, the Sailing Gate was called the Royal Route and was the widest street in the Old Town. At the end of the 18th century, the building housed a prison, later adapted for residential purposes.

Being in the vicinity of the gate you can see the clock on the tower of the church of Saints John’s, equipped with a characteristic gilded face and a hand ended with a human hand. Placement of the clock is not accidental, just like the name "raftsman’s", because the device was to serve port workers and passing sailors. The Sailing Gate is the only place within the city walls from which the clock is visible.