Walls
The first city walls were built, probably in the time of, when the city was founded. It was probably a small, square ring size 200 to 400 m with four gates, surrounding the market square. Part of the fortification was in the form of wooden - earthen walls, part of the walls built of broken stone. The oldest piece of masonry, preserved to this day is a wall running from street to street Grunwald Prusa.
Since then, fortification passed at least two major redevelopment. Inside the walls of expanded as, as the city was enlarged.
The first one took place at the beginning of the fourteenth century. Then the city greatly expanded to the north - east. The included inside the walls of the church and convent of Dominican. In the south, the city has expanded to a new district, called New Town (currently ul. Proletariatczyków), which was established at the gate Ziębicka. Outside the city walls lay the castle and the hospital of St.. George.
In the fifteenth century, the city was repeatedly besieged and conquered, which certainly contributed to the poor state of the city walls. The second thorough reconstruction of the city fortifications took place in the reign of Prince Charles and Podiebrad, who ordered the construction of a new castle. Then the semi-cylindrical towers built, deepened the moat, reinforced walls, loopholes built into the walls, the Wieża nadbudowano Attica.
Another expansion took place between 90 - The sixteenth century, Vovcha River built the walls of the lower outer ring. Reinforcement comprised of two rings then: internal height and thickness of about 8metrów 1 wherein at Metro 50 – 60 meters were arranged Towers - towers and outer ring away from the inner wall of the 10 meters. In the lower inner ring were towers and shooting. From the west, south and north - eastern city moat surrounded the outer width 20 meters. In addition, between the walls was narrower second moat.
Since the mid-eighteenth century city walls were gradually dismantled. In 1750 demolished the outer ring. More or less 20 years later started burying moats and shafts. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the demolition of the inner ring. In 1806 the magistrate ordered the assignment of linden trees around the castle road leading away from the Gate to Gate Kłodzkiej Srebrna. In this way, the most beautiful castle in Promenade. In 1817 was partially demolished section of the city walls between the Gate and Wroclaw Ziębicka and moat was filled and leveled shafts. In 1819 the moat was filled at the Gate of Wroclaw and between Gates and Kłodzka Ziębicka.
The only surviving section of the city today is the moat pond in a city park.
Gates (none of them survived to our times):
Gate Wroclaw survived longest of all gates. Was partially demolished after the great fire in 1858 year. Its residues eventually removed 1880 year. She was also the oldest of the four city gates. It is on this gate during the invasion of the Hussites in 1428 he was martyred Dominican deacon Andrzej.
The gate was rebuilt in the years 1446 and 1516. When remodeling in 1516 the new gate with broken stone built next to the old, which finally collapsed in 1535 year and was dismantled. For a long time the tower was in good condition. Even in the 1848 year built new walls final. In 1861 the town received permission for its demolition. Finally, it was demolished in 1880 year
Gate Ziębicka was demolished in 1816 year. The first mention of its existence comes from 1452 year. The gate was raised in 1504 at the behest of Prince Charles and Podiebrad. Then buried her in front of the pond and dug a moat. The gate was not directly on the present street Ziębice, but north of it.
Gate Kłodzka was demolished in 1823 year. It is not known, when he was. The first mention of its existence dates back to 1504 year. In 1646 the gate tower collapsed. During the war, 30 - Year old gate with the Swedish commander of the order has been reduced, to facilitate artillery.
Dungeon Gate also called Srebnogórska or Świdnicka first mentioned in a document of the city council 18 December 1364 year. But no one knows how the words look like the original building. Hundreds of years later, Dungeon Gate was very heavily damaged during the war, that swept through our lands in the fifteenth century. Prince Charles I ordered the renewal of the gate and supply it with a solid tower. Construction was completed in 1510 year. To commemorate the completion of the works, told the city council over the entrance gate on the inner side embed a stone plaque with the following inscription: "AD 1510 – Nicolao / Rimer – Matthias / Gerotwol / Wenczeslao / Hennicken – and / Udalrico – Crane / neberg – (with) sulibus "he declared that .Napis, that 1510 year, where Dungeon Gate tower were ready, Mayor Nikolaus Riemer, Matthias Gerotwol, Wenzel Henniche and Ulrich were aldermen Grüneberg Zabkowic. This table was stored for a long time in the city hall. The contemporary gate had four floors topped Renaissance attic.
In the years 1632 – 1635 gate was, on the orders of the commander of the garrison, closed by backfilling holes both its input. In the year 1635 traffic to the Silver Mountain has been revived. In 1723 the year before the gate was set Baroque statue of Christ on the pole.
Talks about the destruction of the gate and the tower began in 1817 year. Then the merchant Vinzenz Peschke and master bricklayer Hausdorf asked the municipal government for permission to demolish the tower at its own expense and Gates Świdnicka behavior for themselves derived materials. The technical condition of the building was actually passable. The roof of the tower was heavily damaged. Due to very heavy rain hit the walls and vault, stairs but was almost completely impassable. But then the magistrate replied petitioners ząbkowicki, he did not intend to deal with the destruction of the tower, does not intend to also apply to the higher authorities in order to obtain the relevant permits.
It's been a long time, before he began to think about the demolition of the gate. Only 16 April 1856 the municipality has entered into an agreement, on the basis of which received permission from Wroclaw rozburzenie Gate Srebrna. Here for the first time there is writing on the official name of the "Gateway Srebrnogórska".
Then received dated 30 September 1856 the ministerial permit rozburzenie gate and tower. These works entrusted to the magistrate master masons Grosserowi subject, that any materials from demolition, with the exception of a stone tablet hanging here and found objects of historical significance, will be put at the disposal of a bricklayer. A stone plaque, after the demolition of the gate, with the remnant pillar built into the wall surrounding the garden of the church (built in 1594 year), then, Srebrna street widening (now the Ghetto Heroes) spring and summer 1893 the array separated from the pillar and told to move it to the town hall. During the demolition of the left edge of the stone was chipped. The full text of the inscription can still play based on other sources. Unfortunately, board have not survived to our times.
Demolition of the tower and the gate began 27 November 1856 year, two years before the great fire, which destroyed a large part of the city. The work was completed, no major obstacles in a relatively short time. Left only the old entrance to the city – semicircular arc elliptical arch gate. These remnants are preserved to 1867 year, when the gate was the ultimate destruction. It was the penultimate of the existing gates ząbkowickich.
About a dozen years longer existed only gate Wroclaw, leading to the city from the north.
SOURCE: zabkowiceslaskie.pl