The Sconce Gate (Skansport in Swedish) is named after the adjacent Sea-maiden sconce (a small protective fortification, such as an earthwork, often placed on a mound as a defensive work for artillery), which was built in 1712 under the threat of Russian invasion (see our next stop,
https://reveal.world/story/the-sea-maiden-sconce). It was equipped with eight cannons and was meant to defend the harbor approach and south wall. Today, the former sconce is a popular spot for outings.
The towers along the south face are older and lower than the other towers in the wall. In 1879 an opening was knocked through the wall and named Skansport (The Sconce Gate) partly to allow horse-drawn artillery to be deployed outside the city more rapidly, and partly to ameliorate the communications with the southern suburbs of Visby.
This function is still important, and The Sconce Gate is one of the more frequently used passages into the town center. Cars are allowed to pass through this gate.
