- City gate
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Roshnai Gate from Hazuri Bagh (Lahore)
The entrance to the urban sector of Machu Picchu. Clues of a gate still remains in the structure
Hahnentor at Rudolfplatz, Cologne, Germany
The second military gate in the Theodosian walls of Istanbul
The Ishtar Gate in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin
Zijlpoort (Eastern gate) in Leiden- "City Gate" redirects here. For the Israeli skyscraper, see Moshe Aviv Tower.
A city gate is a gate which is, or was, set within a city wall. Other terms include port.
Contents
Uses
City gates were traditionally built to provide a point of controlled access to and departure from a walled city for people, vehicles, goods and animals. Depending on their historical context they filled functions relating to defense, security, health, trade, taxation, and representation, and were correspondingly staffed by military or municipal authorities. The city gate was also commonly used to display diverse kinds of public information such as announcements, tax and toll schedules, standards of local measures, and legal texts. It could be heavily fortified, ornamented with heraldic shields, sculpture or inscriptions, or used as a location for warning or intimidation, for example by displaying the heads of beheaded criminals or public enemies.
City gates, in one form or another, can be found across the world in cities dating back to ancient times to around the 19th century. Many cities would close their gates after a certain curfew each night, for example Prague.
With increased stability and freedom, many walled cities removed such fortifications as city gates, although many still survive; albeit for historic interest rather than security. Many surviving gates have been heavily restored, rebuilt or new ones created to add to the appearance of a city, such as Bab Bou Jalous in Fes. With increased levels of traffic, city gates have come under threat in the past for impeding the flow of traffic, such as Temple Bar in London which was demolished in the 18th century.
Examples
Ancient World
Africa
Asia
- China: Gate of China in Nanjing
- China: city gate of Jianshui
- India: Gateway of India in Mumbai (Maharashtra)
- Israel: Gates in Jerusalem's Old City Walls
- Japan: Rashomon Gate, Kyoto
- Macau: Portas do Cerco - border gate for Macau with neighbouring Zhuhai
- Pakistan: Walled City of Lahore
- South Korea: Seoul's city gates, including: Namdaemun and Dongdaemun
- Taiwan: North gate of Taipei
- Yemen: Bab al Yemen of Sana'a
Europe
- Belgium: the remaining city gates of Bruges: Kruispoort, Gentpoort, Smedepoort, Ezelpoort
- Belgium: Brusselpoort: in Mechelen
- Belgium: Waterpoort in Antwerp
- Croatia: Pile Gate, Dubrovnik
- Czech Republic: Powder Gate, in Prague
- England: London's Roman and Medieval gates of the London Wall: Ludgate, Newgate, Aldersgate, Bishopsgate, Cripplegate, Moorgate, Aldgate
- England: Westgate, Canterbury
- England: The gates (known as Bars) of the York city walls
- France: Porte de Joigny and Porte de Sens in Villeneuve-sur-Yonne
- France: Porte de la Craffe in Nancy
- France: Porte des Allemands in Metz
- France: Porte Saint-Denis and Porte Saint-Martin in Paris
- France: Porte Cailhau in Bordeaux
- Germany: Eigelsteintor, Hahnentor, Ulrepforte, Severinstor in Cologne
- Germany: Holstentor, in Lübeck
- Germany: Porta Nigra, in Trier
- Germany: Old Gate, in Speyer
- Germany: Steintor, in Rostock
- Germany: Martinstor (Saint Martin's Gate) and Schwabentor in Freiburg im Breisgau
- Germany: East Gate, in Regensburg
- Greece: Lion Gate in Mycenae, 13th century B.C..
- Italy: Porta Capuana, Naples
- Malta: City Gate, Valletta
- Netherlands: Amsterdamse Poort, a city gate of Haarlem
- Netherlands: Waterpoort (water gate), Sneek
- Netherlands: Vischpoort (fish gate), Elburg
- Netherlands: Koppelpoort (combination gate), Amersfoort
- Poland: Brama Portowa (Port Gate), Szczecin
- Poland: Brama Młyńska (Mill Gate), Stargard Szczeciński
- Poland: St. Florian's Gate, Kraków
- Poland: Żuraw (Crane Gate), Gdańsk
- Portugal: Arco da Porta Nova, Braga
- Portugal: Portas da Cidade, Ponta Delgada (Azores)
- Russia: Golden Gate, Vladimir
- Spain: Puerta del Sol, Madrid
- Switzerland: The gates of the Basel City Walls, Basel
- Turkey: The many gates in the walls of Constantinople, present day Istanbul
- Ukraine: Golden Gate, Kiev
North America
- City Gate (Port of Spain), Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
- Porte St-Louis (Vieux-Quebec) and Porte St-Jean (Vieux-Quebec), Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
South America
- Peru : Machu Picchu's gate
See also
Categories:- City walls
- Types of gates
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