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SANDOMIERZ is a town situated on seven hills around Vistula River Valley. It had been founded long before Poland accepted Christianity. It was razed by the Tatars in 1241 and again in 1259, but was rebuilt by The King Casimir III and became a flourishing trade, cultural and religious centre and, at the same time, one of the most beautiful Polish towns at the turn of the 16th century. But in accordance with common saying that history is repeating itself, the town was again heavily damaged by the Swedes in 1656 and lost its importance. It passed to Austria in 1772, to Russia in 1815, and finally came back to Poland in 1919.

The Opatowska Gate - a Gothic gate to the town founded in the 16th century by the King Casimir the Great. The original system of the Gothic walls consisted of four gates leading to: Opatów (the only preserved), Zawichost, Lublin, and Cracow and two wicket gates (of which one - the Dominican wicket gate, called “the Needle Eye” - has been preserved) as well as twenty-one defensive towers.

On the northern facade of the gate there is an original guide bar which was used for lowering the portcullis. The Opatowska Gate is crowned with a Renaissance attic. There is a scenic terrace on the top.

www.sandomierz.pl