The Worlds 10 Famous Gates

Have you ever wondered why gates were built during the medieval times and what are those famous gates? This compact article will answer those questions.

Amsterdamse Poort

This small old city gate of Haarlem is located in the east side of the town proper on the old road to Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Originally built in 1355, this gate is the last remnant of Haarlem's mediaeval defensive walls. By the mid-19th century, the gate was so dilapidated that the city government wanted to demolish the gate. However, city council used it to store munitions. In the 1960s the gate was declared a  listed building.  In 1985, the gate was completely renovated.

Jaffa Gate

The Jaffa Gate is a stone gateway in the historic walls of Jerusalem's Old City. It was built by Suleiman in 1538 and one of eight gates to the Old City. In ancient times, the gate opens to a road, Jaffa Street that lead to the port city of Jaffa, which is now just on the southern tip of Tel Aviv. The gate on the western side of the Old City marked the end of the highway leading from the Jaffa coast and now leads into the Muslim and Armenian quarters. One of the entrances to the Arab marketplace is just inside the Jaffa Gate. In 1898, a road was built that allows cars to enter the Old City through a wide gap in the wall between Jaffa Gate and the Citadel.

Sather Gate

Sather Gate is a famous landmark separating Sproul Plaza from the bridge over Strawberry Creek, leading to the center of the University of California, Berkeley campus. Originally, the gate served as the end of Telegraph Avenue, and marked the University's south entrance. The University later expanded further south of Strawberry Creek, and the gate is now well separated from Berkeley's city streets by Sproul Plaza. The gate was donated by Jane K. Sather, a sponsor of the university, in memory of her late husband Peder Sather. Sather Gate was completed in 1910. Atop the gate are eight panels of bas-relief figures: four nude men representing the disciplines of law, letters, medicine, and mining, and four nude women representing the disciplines of agriculture, architecture, art, and electricity. Today, it remains a gathering spot for different activities.

Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate, located on the Pariser Platza, is the only remaining one of the series of gates through which one entered Berlin. Its triumphal arch is the symbol of Berlin, Germany. One block to its north lies the Reichstag. It comprises the monumental termination of Unter den Linden, the renowned boulevard of linden trees which led directly to the royal residence

Downing Street gates

On 11 November 1920, the first barriers in Downing Street were erected at the St. James's Park intended to prevent the crowds in Whitehall from swelling.  The barriers were brought down in 1922 with the creation of the Irish Free State. However,  vehicle access has been reduced since 1973 when metal barriers were placed across the entrance to the street. In 1982 access was more fully restricted with railings and a demountable gate was installed. In 1989, large black steel gates were erected at the entrance of Downing Street to protect the Prime Minister (then Margaret Thatcher) from terrorist attack, particularly from the Provisional IRA. In 2003, work to strengthen the foundations of the gates was carried out.

Gates of Cairo

The Egyptian city of Cairo has, in its history, had a major number of fortified gates protecting both the inner and outer city. Those gates were built not only defend the country against enemies, but were there also for management and administrative purposes. Saladin El-Ayoubi built the third wall in 1171. He wanted to surround Cairo with one wall and connecting its neighboring suburbs with gates. Unfortunately, this dream didn’t materialized due to Saladin's death. Some of Cairo Gates still exist and others are no more. Among these gates includes: Bab El-Metwali, Bab Zuweila, Bab El Qantara, Bab El Qela, Bab Qasr El Selehdar, Bab Qayet Bei among others.

Anfield gates

At Anfield stadium, two gates  that  are considered important shrines are featured:  the Bob Paisley gate and the Bill Shankly gate. These gates are named after former Liverpool managers: the Bob Paisley and Bill Shankly. In addition, a statue of Shankly is situated outside the stadium.

Sungnyemun

Sungnyemun (South Gate) is Korea’s 1st national treasure, and  is the largest castle gate stone structure with an arched entrance in the middle. Completed in 1398 during the Joseon Dynasty, the gate used to greet foreign emissaries, control access to Seoul and keep out Korean tigers. It was originally one of three main gates, the others being the East Gate (Dongdaemun) and the now-demolished West Gate in the Seodaemun-gu district. Before the 2008 fire, Namdaemun was the oldest wooden structure in Seoul.[3] The city gate, made of wood and stone with a two-tiered, pagoda-shaped tiled roof.

Torii Gate

The Torii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine is one of Japan's most popular tourist attractions. This red gate that stands in the water as a shrine has existed since 1168, though the current gate dates to 1875. The gate, built of camphor wood, is 16 meters high and has a four-legged style to provide stability. The torii gate only appears to be floating at high tide.

The Gates of Alexander

The Gates of Alexander (Caspian Gates) were a legendary barrier supposedly built by Alexander the Great in the Caucasus to keep the uncivilized barbarians of the north from invading the land to the south. The gates were a popular subject in medieval travel literature. The wall has been frequently identified with the Caspian Gates of Derbent, Russia (see above photo) and with the Pass of Dariel or Darial. The name Caspian Gates originally applied to the narrow region at the southeast corner of the Caspian Sea, through which Alexander actually marched in the pursuit of Bessus, although he did not stop to fortify it.