{{Short description|Historical city gate in Szczecin, Poland}} {{Infobox building | name = Harbour Gate | status = | image = File:09 11 Brama Portowa Szczecin SZN.jpg | caption = The building in 2009. | building_type = City gate | location = Szczecin, Poland | address = 2 Harbour Gate Square | coordinates = {{coord|53|25|30|N|14|33|00|E|type:landmark_region:PL|display=inline,title}} | construction_start_date = 1725 | completion_date = 1727 | architectural = | tip = | roof = | floor_count = 1 | floor_area = | architectural_style = Baroque | architecture_firm = | architect = Gerhard Cornelius van Wallrawe | developer = | owner = | website = | references = | demolished_date = | renovation_date = |other_designers = {{plainlist| * Bartholomé Damart * Hans Jürgen Reinecke }}}} The '''Harbour Gate''' ({{langx|pl|Brama Portowa}}; {{langx|de|Hafentor}}), formerly known as the '''Berlin Gate''' ({{langx|pl|link=no|Brama Berlińska}}; {{langx|de|link=no|Berliner Tor}}), and the '''Brandenburg Gate''' ({{langx|pl|link=no|Brama Brandenburska}}; {{langx|de|link=no|Brandenburger Tor}}), is a historic Baroque city gate in Szczecin, Poland, located at the intersection of Independence Avenue, Wyszyńskiego Street, and Victory Square. It was constructed between 1725 and 1727, with the project being designed by Gerhard Cornelius van Wallrawe, and its elaborate façade sculptures done by Bartholomé Damart. It served as one of the entrances to the city, and was part of the fortification walls, until 1841, when they were deconstructed. Currently, it serves as a community theatre venue.
== History == [[File:Amfitryta Monument in Stettin.jpg|thumb|left|180px|The Amphitrite Fountain, sometime between 1902 and 1920.]] The construction of the city gate was ordered by king Frederick William I of Prussia in 1724, and lasted from 1725 to 1727. Attached to the fortification walls, it was one of the entrances to the city, and was protected by the nearby Royal and Passau bastions. The building was designed by military architect Gerhard Cornelius van Wallrawe, with the masonry done by Hans Jürgen Reinecke, and the façade sculptures by Bartholomé Damart. The bricks used in its construction were manufactured in Liège, Belgium, while its façade and ornamentations were made from sandstone imported from Pirna in Saxony.<ref name=vs>{{cite web|url=https://visitszczecin.eu/pl/teatry/43-brama-portowa|language=pl|website=visitszczecin.eu|title=Brama Portowa}}</ref><ref name=wzp>{{cite web|url=https://rowery.wzp.pl/235-pomorze-zachodnie-brama-portowa|title=Brama Portowa|language=pl|website=rowery.wzp.pl}}</ref><ref name=bog>Barbara Ochendowska-Grzelak: "Hans Lutsch, Franz Balke und Gerhard Bronisch und ihr Beitrag zur Erforschung der pommerschen Kunstgeschichte", in: Bernfried Lichtnau (editor): ''Bildende Kunst in Mecklenburg und Pommern von 1880 bis 1950. Kunstprozesse zwischen Zentrum und Peripherie''. Berlin: Lukas Verlag, 2011, p. 67–82. ISBN 978-3-86732-061-0 (in German)</ref> It was originally named the Brandenburg Gate, and was renamed to the Berlin Gate in 1732, as the road lead from it to the city of Berlin. The name was previously used to refer to a different gate, located at Wyszyńskiego Street, until it was deconstructed the same year.<ref name=vs/><ref>C. Fredrich: "Die Baugeschichte Stettins unter König Friedrich Wilhelm I", ''BSt NF'', vol. 31. Szczecin, 1929, p. 79. (in German)</ref> The fortification walls were removed in 1873, with the gate being preserved, and given under the city administration.<ref name=vs/>
In 1902, the Amphitrite Fountain sculptured by Reinhold Felderhoff, was placed in front of the eastern side of the gate, which was by this point bricked up. The sculpture depicted Amphitrite, goddess of the sea in the Greek mythology, as a nude female figure, standing on a chariot drawn by two galloping horses. It was placed on top of a large shallow fountain basin. The nudity of the sculpture caused controversy and protests among some religious conservative women. The location of the fountain and its basin was deemed to interfere with the road traffic, and it was removed on 12 October 1932.<ref name=es>''Encyklopedia Szczecina, tom 2: P-Ż''. Szczecin: Uniwersytet Szczeciński, 2000, p. 154. ISBN 83-7241-089-5. (in Polish)</ref><ref name=wyb>{{cite web|url=https://szczecin.wyborcza.pl/szczecin/7,34939,6895078,sedina-amfitryta-i-dziewczyna-z-magnoliami.html|website=szczecin.wyborcza.pl|language=pl|title=Sedina, Amfitryta i... dziewczyna z magnoliami|date= 4 August 2009|author=Maria Łopuch}}</ref>
In 1942, during the Second World War, to protect the elaborate sculptures on the top of the gate, from the Allied bombing raids, they were taken down, and hidden in the Arkona Woods. They were reinstalled in 1957. The building itself was covered in ivy to hide it.<ref name=vs/><ref name=wzp/>
The building received the status of a protected cultural property in 1954.<ref name=wzp/><ref name=wkz>{{cite web|url=http://wkz.bip.alfatv.pl/pliki/wkz/File/Szczecin(2).xls|website=wkz.bip.alfatv.pl|language=pl|title=Rejestr zabytków nieruchomych województwa z wyłączeniem zabytków archeologicznych w powiecie szczecińskim}}</ref>
From 1976 to 2013, the building housed an art supplies store. Since 2015, it is a theatre venue of the Szczecin Association of the Friends of Art.<ref name=vs/><ref name=wzp/>
== Characteristics == The building is placed next to the intersection of Independence Avenue and Wyszyńskiego Street, and is a central object of the Harbour Gate Square ({{langx|pl|link=no|Plac Brama Portowa}}), which is the easternmost tip of the larger Victory Square.<ref name=vs/><ref name=wzp/>
It is a historic city gate, built from bricks, and with Baroque sandstone façade and elaborate ornamentation. It has a form of two gates, connected by a long hallway.<ref name=vs/><ref name=wzp/>
The façade of the western entrance includes a cartouche above the gate archways, featuring a monogram of king Frederick William I of Prussia, with a royal crown put on top of it, two angels to its sides, playin on trumpets, while everything is placed at the backdrop of an elaborate panoply. To the sides, are two pillars. The attic above the cornice of the entablature features a Latin inscription made of letters painted in gold, informing about rightful ownership of the city of Szczecin by the Margraviate of Brandenburg, after it was bought in 1719, by king Frederick William I from the Swedish Empire. Above it, is displayed a relief, depicting the panorama of the city with Viadrus, a god of the Oder river in the local Slavic folklore, placed on the side. At the top, is installed a large sculpture, depicting the great coat of arms of Brandenburg, with a royal crown on top of it, and with a large panoply behind it, consisting of weaponry, armour, shields, and standards.<ref name=vs/><ref name=wzp/><ref name=bog/>
The inscription reads: : ''Fridericvs Wilhelmvs·Rex Borrvssiæ·Dvcatum Stetinensem''<br />''cessvm Brandenbvrgicis Electoribvs svb Clientelæ Fide Pomeraniæ''<br />''Dvcibvs redditvm·Post Fato ad Svecos delatvm·Ivstis pactis ivstoqve''<br />''pertio ad Panim vsqve emit·paravit·sibiqve restitvit·Anno·MDCCXIX''<br />''ac Portam Brandenb:fieri ivssit·''
It translates to: :''Frederick William, King of Prussia, bought the Duchy of Stettin, which had been transferred to the Electors of Brandenburg and returned to the Dukes of Pomerania under their feudal sovereignty, which later, through fate, had come to Sweden. In fair contracts and for a fair price, he acquired it up to the Peene and incorporated it back into his state. In 1719, he had this Brandenburg Gate built.''
The façade of the eastern entrance also includes a cartouche with a monogram of king Frederick William I of Prussia, and a panoply. To its sides are reliefs of four pillars decorated with panoply. At the top is placed a large sculpture with the great coat of arms of Brandenburg, held by the wild men, a royal crown on top of it, and the Order of the Black Eagle hang from it. Below it are two sets of Roman armour. In the background is a large panoply.<ref name=vs/><ref name=wzp/><ref name=bog/>
Currently, the building serves as a theatre venue for the Szczecin Association of the Friends of Art.<ref name=vs/><ref name=wzp/> It has the status of a protected cultural property.<ref name=wzp/><ref name=wkz/>
== Gallery == <gallery> File:Berliner Tor Szczecin.jpg|The west façade. File:Szczecin 05-2017 img12 Harbour Gate.jpg|The east façade. File:Stettin, Berliner Tor, Fotografie ca. 1890–1900 - LCCN2002713642.jpg|The Harbour Gate sometime between 1890 and 1990. </gallery>
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:1727 establishments in the Holy Roman Empire Category:1720s establishments in Prussia Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1727 Category:Transport infrastructure completed in 1727 Category:Military installations established in 1727 Category:Buildings and structures in Szczecin Category:Centrum, Szczecin Category:Baroque architecture in Poland Category:Objects of cultural heritage in Poland Category:City gates Category:Gates in Poland Category:Sandstone buildings