Town Walls

Main data:

Year of construction: 1300 (approximetely - ?)
Year of reconstruction: 1963
Designer: ???
Location: along all Podwale street (from Senatorska to Nowomiejska streets) and further along Mostowa street

On the beginning it is worth realizing why actually in old cities town walls used to be built. This constructions existed actually in most of medieval cities. First reason seems to be obvious - they were supposed to defend the city from potential invaders. But actually that was not the only purpose. In the middle ages there were actually no borders between the countries, at least as we have them today. They were only some lines on maps, sometimes even not very accurate. So anyone could pass them. But rulers wanted to have some control over the flow of people and commodities. And that is why it was necessary to construct walls around towns, only with a few gates, which were all the time supervised and closed for night. Thanks to that it was possible to control, who enters and who leaves the city, what he brings with him, fares could be charged, and possible intruders could be stopped. It was not different in Warsaw.

Originally only a ground palisade with some wooden structures surrounded the city. It was constructed when the city was being formed, so at the end of 13th or in the first years of 14th century. Probably originally also a moat existed, but it was buried later.

In the first half of 14th century the palisade was step by step replaced with a wall. In the first stage two town gates were built: Cracow Gate (Brama Krakowska - in the place where today the Gothic Bridge stands, next to Castle Square) and New Town Gate (Brama Nowomiejska - next to today's Barbican) and also the fragment of walls from Cracow Gate to Waski Dunaj street, together with Knights Tower (Baszta Rycerska) and a tower at the end of Waski Dunaj street.

In the second stage (in the second part of 14th century) another part of town walls was constructed: from Waski Dunaj street to Cracow Gate and further, to the slope of Wisla river.

In the third stage of construction, at the end of 14th century, a wall between Royal Castle and Cracow Gate was added (so at today's Castle Square). Also the Marshal Tower (Baszta Marszalkowska) was constructed at the northern end of walls, next to the slope of Wisla river. At that time it was the highest tower. In its cellars a prison was located. Further, along Brzozowa street, behind Kanonie Square, to the Castle, another, eastern part of walls was continued. It included a tower at the end of Stone Stairs (Kamienne Schodki) Street, so-called Dung Gate (Brama Gnojna, at the end of Celna Street) and Canon Gate (Furta Kanonicka). In this way the walls surrounded the whole town and reached the total length of about 1200 metres.

But that was not the end of Town Walls construction. In 15th century, about 10 metres outside from the first line of walls, the second one was built. Outside the walls also a new moat was formed, but probably that was a dry moat. The new line of walls was adjusted to defence using firearms. Low, semicircle-shaped towers was a part of the new line of walls, Gunpowder Tower (Baszta Prochowa) was the biggest one among them.

In 16th century the Town Walls had still been developed. Two new gates was constructed: Minor Gate (Brama Poboczna), at the end of Waski Dunaj street and White Gate (Furta Biala), at the end of Stone Stairs Street. And in the front of Cracow Gate the Barbican was constructed.

The Town Walls played a role during war against Sweden in 17th century. They were much damaged at that time.

Since 18th century, when the Old Town was already only a part of Warsaw and the importance of the walls decreased, they were step by step disassembled and absorbed by newly built houses. That proceeded through all 19th century.

In the period before Second World War, when remains of old town walls had been discovered inside newer buildings, their historical value was appreciated. In years 1937-38 a fragment of walls between Nowomiejska and Waski Dunaj street was restored, including Gunpowder Tower and a part of Barbican as well.

During Second World War, most of the houses that hid the remains of town walls inside them was destroyed. Also the part of town walls restored in 1930s was damaged. After the war a decision of reconstructing the fortifications was made. In years 1946-54 the Gunpowder Tower and the Barbican was reconstructed, and in years 1958-63 the rest of the walls, from Castle Square to the slope of Wisla river and Brzozowa street. Only the eastern part, along Wisla river, was not reconstructed. Today only some small fragments of it can be found, partly included into the structure of houses.

Since the reconstruction after the war the Town Walls already became much devastated, so in last years their renovation is being done step by step. A part of walls next to Barbican is already renewed. But the parts closer to Castle Square are still much neglected. But despite that the Town Walls are very nice place. Especially the two towers - Knights Tower and Gunpowder Tower, which were restored after the war, look very attractive. Also the remains of Marshall Tower, at the northern end of the walls are a very nice place to see, especially for a view to Wisla river. Since December 2007 the renovated part of the Town Walls is at night nicely illuminated and, what is more, this illumination is dynamic - it changes colours a few times every minute.