Tourist Information
| Type | Monument, Gate |
| Other Names | Carol Gate, Main Gate, Mihai Viteazul Gate, Horea’s Gate |
| Construction Year | 1728 |
| Visiting Hours | Anytime |
| Ticket price | Free |
| Location | Mihai Viteazu Street, Alba Iulia, Romania, Europe |
Map
A gate like a triumph
The 3rd Gate has the shape of a double triumphal arch, it is the largest and most impressive gate of the Alba Carolina fortress.
At the top of the gate is the equestrian statue of Carol VI, the Austrian emperor during which the fortress was built.
The emperor appears triumphant, dignified, and dominant, and his horse, rendered in an attitude of fierce war, passes over the Turkish military.
The four virtues
The four statues at the top, from the east (you can see them entering the fortress), represent the virtues: Temperance, Wisdom, Justice and Courage.
The 3rd Gate has three entrances: a big one and two smaller.
The monument is also known as “Horea’s Gate” because at the top of the gate there is a cell in which it is said that Horea was imprisoned. The cell can be visited as part of the circuit “The route of the 3 Fortifications“.
The bridge and the ditch
In front of the gate, there is a mobile bridge. In the past, in the evening it was raised and in the morning it was lowered again.
The ditch in front of the gate should have been filled with water, which was never done. The ditch of the fortress is now pedestrianized and full of surprises, you will find restaurants, terraces, gardens full of flowers, statues, and even a time capsule. In front of the 3rd gate, you can rent a small train that can take you through this moat that surrounds the fortress.
Great Monuments
