Laurinc Gate
Encyclopedia
Laurinc Gate was a medieval town gate in the historical Old Town
of Bratislava
, the capital of Slovakia. It was built in the 14th century and demolished by the order of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
in the 18th century together with most of the city walls, because the inner walls were limiting the town's growth. It was named after Saint Lawrence
.
Unlike the Michael's Gate
, the only medieval city gate still standing in Bratislava, Laurinc Gate did not contain a tall tower. Instead, it was a massive square-shaped structure with a long tunnel at the ground floor. There was a water moat in front of it and unlike the sometimes dry moat near Michael's Gate
, this one always contained water due to its proximity to the Danube
and the presence of the mouth of a stream coming down from the Little Carpathians
mountains. Today, a portcullis
hanging over Laurinská Street symbolizes the place of the former Laurinc Gate.
in the second half of the 13th century. Through most of its history
, Bratislava was known as Pressburg or Pozsony. The gate was continually strengthened and improved over the centuries.
Its name comes from a small church that stood directly in front of it (later demolished in the first half of the 16th century. The church, together with its chapel
was consecrated to Saint Lawrence
. He was considered to be the patron of travelers and the name stuck. First reference to the gate comes from the year 1412.
At the beginning of the 18th century a pillar with the statue of Saint Florian was built in front of the gate.
Old Town, Bratislava
The Old Town of Bratislava is the historic center and one of the boroughs of Bratislava, in the Bratislava Region of Slovakia. It is coextensive with the smallest Slovak administrative district by area, Bratislava I. It contains the small, but preserved medieval city center, Bratislava Castle and...
of Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, the capital of Slovakia. It was built in the 14th century and demolished by the order of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in the 18th century together with most of the city walls, because the inner walls were limiting the town's growth. It was named after Saint Lawrence
Saint Lawrence
Lawrence of Rome was one of the seven deacons of ancient Rome who were martyred during the persecution of Valerian in 258.- Holy Chalice :...
.
Unlike the Michael's Gate
Michael's Gate
In Bratislava, Slovakia, Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the...
, the only medieval city gate still standing in Bratislava, Laurinc Gate did not contain a tall tower. Instead, it was a massive square-shaped structure with a long tunnel at the ground floor. There was a water moat in front of it and unlike the sometimes dry moat near Michael's Gate
Michael's Gate
In Bratislava, Slovakia, Michael's Gate is the only city gate that has been preserved of the medieval fortifications and ranks among the oldest town buildings. Built about the year 1300, its present shape is the result of baroque reconstructions in 1758, when the statue of St. Michael and the...
, this one always contained water due to its proximity to the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
and the presence of the mouth of a stream coming down from the Little Carpathians
Little Carpathians
The Little Carpathians are a low, about 100 km long, mountain range, part of the Carpathian Mountains. The mountains are situated in Western Slovakia, covering the area from Bratislava to Nové Mesto nad Váhom, a very small part called Hundsheimer Berge is situated south of Devín Gate in...
mountains. Today, a portcullis
Portcullis
A portcullis is a latticed grille made of wood, metal, fibreglass or a combination of the three. Portcullises fortified the entrances to many medieval castles, acting as a last line of defence during time of attack or siege...
hanging over Laurinská Street symbolizes the place of the former Laurinc Gate.
History
Laurinc Gate was constructed together with the oldest parts of the city wallsBratislava Fortifications
The Bratislava fortifications are the system of fortifications of the city of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, of which one gate and two sections of walls remain today. Most of the medieval fortification system was demolished in the year 1775 by the order of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria,...
in the second half of the 13th century. Through most of its history
History of Bratislava
This page gives an overview of the history of Bratislava – the capital of Slovakia and the country's largest city.-Prehistory:In the area where present-day Bratislava lies, three skeletons of the Pliopithecus vindobonensis were found in the borough Devínska Nová Ves in 1957, dating 25–15...
, Bratislava was known as Pressburg or Pozsony. The gate was continually strengthened and improved over the centuries.
Its name comes from a small church that stood directly in front of it (later demolished in the first half of the 16th century. The church, together with its chapel
Saint Jacob's Chapel, Bratislava
Saint James's Chapel is a ruined gothic chapel and surviving ossuary discovered underneath Námeste SNP in the center of Bratislava, Slovakia in 1994...
was consecrated to Saint Lawrence
Saint Lawrence
Lawrence of Rome was one of the seven deacons of ancient Rome who were martyred during the persecution of Valerian in 258.- Holy Chalice :...
. He was considered to be the patron of travelers and the name stuck. First reference to the gate comes from the year 1412.
At the beginning of the 18th century a pillar with the statue of Saint Florian was built in front of the gate.