The main seaward gate of medieval Tallinn. The Great Coastal Gate was the most important gate of the Hanseatic town Tallinn. It was the main route for traffic between the port and the market-square. Above the gateway stands an impressive dolomite carving bearing Tallin's coat of arms (from 1529). The main gate, which was erected in the 14th century in line with town hall, was, in its final shape, a rectangular tower with six storeys (demolished in 1782). Its gateway was closable with a portcullis. The barbican, built next presumably had two side-towers, out of which only the western one has survived as rebuilt in the next construction phase. In the fear of an onrush by 'The King of Denmark and his people', extensive reconstruction work took place under the supervision of masters Clemens Pale and Gert Konigk between 1518 and 1529. Tallinn saw erection of a yet unprecedented artillery tower with a diameter of 25 meters in the NE-corner of the town fortification zone - in the close vicinity of the port. The three bottom floors of the tower, with wall thickness of 4.4 - 5.1 meters, boast 22 artillery embrasures equipped with ventilation shafts. The upper part of the artillery tower was surrounded by a salient parapet or machicolation - this interesting defence feature has only survived on the Western tower of the barbican. Later reconstruction works, carried out in the 17th century, included an additional gate and the fourth artillery floor of the artillery tower then known as Rosenkrantz. After the Great Northern War (1700 - 1721), the artillery tower remained in use as a warehouse, barracks and prison. Since then, the tower has been named Fat Margaret. The gate complex suffered in fire during the February Revolution in 1917. Today, it houses the Estonian Maritime Museum (reconstruction works by Polish restorers in 1978 - 1980).

Type of Data Point - Publicly Available Information

Great Coastal Gate - Public Info

Visit page of the element - Great Coastal Gate

Inserted: 23-08-2022 04:08:55