The Saint George Gate (Sankt Göransporten in Swedish) was built to give access to St. George's Hospital which was the medieval asylum for lepers situated outside the walls due to the fear of contagion. The ruins of a big church still exist there, as well as many house ruins below ground level. In the 13th century this hospital was the biggest of its kind in northern Europe, capable of housing a large number of patients as well as travelers. Today, Visby's modern hospital is located on the same site as the former asylum.
The bridge outside St. George's Gate is a reconstruction on the medieval foundations. The bridge consists of two parallel bridge arches that are connected by a wooden structure that could be removed in case of war. The trenches under the bridge were also part of the medieval defense system. The gate tower has been subject to attack by a siege engine and you can still see a catapult stone stuck in one of the arrowslits on the fourth floor, sitting there since medieval times.
In old documents, the gate is called the Second Tall Henry (Andre Lång Henrik) and this may have been the medieval name for it. During the 19th century it was known as the Abandoned Gate (Ödeporten) and since the beginning of the 20th century it has been known by its present name.
