Pile Gate
- Address:Old Town, Dubrovnik
- Hours:Open daily
- Admission:Free
10:23 AM Saturday, May 26
Partly sunny. Mild.
7 day forecast »
Pile Gate is a grand entrance into Dubrovnik’s Old Town, on its western wall.
Built in 1537 to protect the city from invaders and monitor trade, Pile Gate was originally reached via a wooden drawbridge, which was raised every evening, the gate locked and the key handed to the prince in an elaborate ceremony.
Pile Gate has an outer and inner gate with statues of St. Blaise, the city’s patron saint. The St. Blaise statue in the niche of the interior arch is the handiwork 20th-century Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. You’ll also find an old door here that dates back to 1460.
You’ll need to pay a small entrance fee to enter the Lapad (Old Town) area via the gate. As you pass over the stone bridge towards the outer gate you’ll notice a green space below. This space used to be the moat, another defence mechanism to deter those who wished to infiltrate the city.
Latest Reviews All Pile Gate Reviews »
I simply loved it! Small group; great shade finder tour guide; great explanations. Continue Reading »
I really enjoyed this tour. It's a great introduction to the town, including the main highlights of the old town. The weather in Dubrovnik was amazing, and the sceneries were very beautiful. Most of the old town is a pedestrian area, so doing a walking tour is the way to see it! Our guide was very knowledgeable, and made it very interesting. We were also very lucky that we were in a small group so it seemed like a private tour. I would definitely recommend it! Continue Reading »
Practical Info
As you pass between the gates you’ll notice a commemorative plaque that indicates the extent of the damage caused during the Siege of Dubrovnik in 1991 and 1992.
Pile Gate is the main tourist gateway into the Lapad area and most city buses stop here.
