Castle & fortressTransylvania

Catherine’s Gate: the surviving gate tower of Brașov

Catherine’s Gate (Poarta Ecaterinei) is a Renaissance gate tower of 1559 on the south-western side of the old fortifications of Brașov, Romania. It is the only city gate to survive from medieval times, and today it stands beside the Șchei quarter and is used for exhibitions.

The four little turrets on top of this gate were a message: Brașov had the right to pass death sentences. And for centuries it was the only gate through which Romanians from Șchei could enter.

WhereSouth-west side of the old town walls of Brașov, towards the Șchei quarter, between the Weavers’ and Blacksmiths’ Bastions

TypeRenaissance gate tower of the city fortifications, completed in 1559

Best forMedieval fortifications, Saxon and Romanian history of Brașov and a quick stop on a walk along the old walls

Getting thereIn the centre of Brașov; the Black Tower and Șchei Gate are within walking distance, Râșnov Citadel about 11 km

The history of Catherine’s Gate

For reasons of flooding and strategy, with raids first by Tatars and then by the Ottomans, the Saxons of Brașov moved from their original settlement towards Tâmpa mountain from the 14th century and began to build defences. Between 1400 and 1427 the town was enclosed with walls and defensive towers and became a famous fortress, known as the Cetate. A gate in the south-western wall was probably built in the 15th century together with the walls. It first appears in documents in 1517, as the Holy Spirit Gate, a name taken from a nearby chapel of the Holy Spirit (Corpus Christi).

A storm and flood on 24 August 1526 destroyed that gate, and work on a new one began. It stood at the end of Catherine Street, which took its name from the convent of nuns that once stood there, so the gate became known as Catherine’s Gate. It was also called the Upper Gate, because it faced uphill towards Șchei, the “upper suburb” of the Saxons. The tower of the outer gate was completed on 17 September 1559 on the initiative of the town judge Johannes Benkner, and the tailors’ guild was responsible for defending it. Records say that bombards were brought from Prague for each of the tower’s eight firing ports.

The gate had a special social role. Under Saxon rule, between the 13th and 17th centuries, Romanians were forbidden to own property inside the walls and settled in the Șchei quarter outside. Old documents call this gate Porta Valacce, the Wallachians’ Gate, because it was the entrance for the Romanians of Șchei. They could enter only at certain times and had to pay a toll to sell their produce inside the citadel.

Today’s tower is only a part of a much larger complex, a rectangular fort about 75 by 50 metres with wooden galleries for the defenders. The gate was damaged by fires in 1689 and 1759 and by the earthquake of 1738, and was repaired each time. In the 18th century growing trade overloaded it, and new gates to Șchei were opened in 1820 and 1827–1828. In 1827 the gate complex was demolished, except for the tower, which became a storehouse with its passage walled up. Schools were built on both sides.

The tower was reopened in 1955 and restored between 1971 and 1973 under the architect Günther Schuller, then served as the seat of the Brașov branch of the Union of Architects. It was renovated again in 2006, when the small square behind it was laid out. Today exhibitions of graphic art, painting and old photographs are held in the tower, and it houses a museum.

Curiosities about Catherine’s Gate

The four small turrets at the top of the tower symbolise Brașov’s “right of the sword” (ius gladii), the legal power to decide on capital punishment. Similar turrets appear in other Transylvanian towns.
Above the entrance a plaque shows the city’s coat of arms, a crown over an oak trunk with roots. Its inscriptions record the year 1559 and the name of mayor Johannes Benkner.
Old documents call it Porta Valacce, the Wallachians’ Gate, because it was the Romanians of Șchei who used it.
Bombards for each of the tower’s eight firing ports are said to have been brought from Prague.
The vault of the tower and of the passage is painted in Renaissance style. Above the arch, triangular openings once carried the chains of a drawbridge that has since disappeared.
A small tree garden, with plane trees, thuja, maple and chestnut among others, lies in front of the gate.

Tours near Catherine’s Gate

Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:

Bran (Dracula) Castle, Bear Sanctuary, Rasnov Fortress & Palinca Distillery

★ 5 (51 reviews) · 6 h

See details ›

Bear Sanctuary, Bran (Dracula) Castle, Peles Castle From Brasov

★ 5 (28 reviews) · 8 h

See details ›

Horseback Riding Tour In Brasov - Ride Through Fields, Forests & Hills

★ 5 (25 reviews) · 5 h

See details ›

Transfagarasan amazing road trip from Brasov

★ 5 (25 reviews) · 7 h

See details ›

Visiting Catherine’s Gate: what to see

The tower is a square building on three levels, about 9 by 8 metres, with four corner turrets. It is best admired from outside, where the city arms and the sandstone-faced west wall are visible.
Inside, an old stone spiral staircase in the thickness of the southern wall and the firing-port niches have been restored. Exhibitions are held in the tower.
The gate lies beside the Șchei quarter, and the Black Tower and Șchei Gate, other pages on this site, are within walking distance.
Râșnov Citadel (about 11 km) and Prejmer fortified church (about 17 km) are the nearest other places of interest.
Exhibition arrangements change, so check the current opening hours before you go.

Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.

Map: where Catherine’s Gate is

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Photos of Catherine’s Gate

Questions

Where is Catherine’s Gate?

It stands on the south-western side of Brașov’s old fortifications, towards the Șchei quarter, between the Weavers’ Bastion and the Blacksmiths’ Bastion.

When was Catherine’s Gate built?

The tower was completed on 17 September 1559 and replaced an older gate destroyed by a flood in 1526.

Why is it called Catherine’s Gate?

It stood at the end of Catherine Street, named after a convent of nuns that once stood there.

What do the four turrets mean?

They symbolise the town’s “right of the sword”, its judicial autonomy including the power to pronounce death sentences.

Why was it called the Wallachians’ Gate?

Under Saxon rule Romanians were not allowed to own property inside the walls and lived in Șchei, so this was the gate they used to enter the town, at set times and for a toll.

Can you go inside Catherine’s Gate?

Exhibitions are organised in the tower and it is described as housing a museum. Check the current opening hours before you go.