Foregate - Ancient and medieval architecture

General term of one or several defensive elements erected directly in front of the gate of a fortified circuit, connected to it and serving to defend it. The most common form of the foregate in the medieval fortification was a extended wall with a gate, connected to the gatehouse (neck). For additional reinforcement, a defensive sidewalk with battlement, arrowslits and drawbridges were used. The development of the foregate led to its strengthening by the erecting of additional elements such as towers, barbicans and bastions, connected by the neck with the gatehouse.

foregate on the example of Florian’s Gate from the beginning of the 14th century, Cracow, Poland

extended, two-stepped foregate on the example of the Florian’s Gate from the 14th/15th century, Kraków, Poland

foregate ended with a barbican on the example of Florian’s Gate from the end of the 15th century, Kraków, Poland

reconstruction of the Szczecin Gate in Pyrzyce with an extended foregate, flanked by two towers from the 15th/16th century according to J.Bogdanowski

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