City Fortifications

The construction of the brick fortifications is linked to Gryfice’s granting of town privileges. This took place in 1262. It is likely that wooden and earthen fortifications already existed at that time. Construction of the brick walls did not begin until 1300. Along their length, three gates (Wysoka, Reska, and Kamienna), three towers (Prochowa, Młyńska, and Mostowa), and six turrets were built. In addition, three barbicans were constructed outside the line of the walls, in front of the gates. The walls ran along the following streets: Murarska, Klasztorna, Nadbrzeżna, Leśna, Górska, and Wałowa. Fieldstones and brick were used to construct the fortifications. They were built to a height of 3 to 5 meters, and their thickness ranged from 40 to 80 centimeters. The top of the walls was crowned with battlements, which protected the defenders’ positions during a siege. The fortifications proved obsolete in the face of advances in the art of siege warfare, so in 1807 they were reinforced with an additional earthen rampart. However, the fortifications modernized in this way were never tested in battle, as the Prussians, under pressure from Napoleon’s armies, decided to surrender the city without a fight. Later, the rampart was leveled, and most of the walls were demolished. Today, visitors can see the Wysoka and Kamienna Gates, the Prochowa Tower, and sections of the walls on Wałowa Street (from Niepodległości Street) and from the Wysoka Gate to Murarska Street.