Gate of St. Paul

The Gate of St. Paul opens at the west part of the Bulwark of France, built by grand master Jacques de Milly (1454-61) to protect the northeast corner of the Kastro. At that point began the sector of the defences assigned to the Hospitaller tongue of France (i.e. Northern France), which spread westwards to the Palace of the Grand Master at the northwest corner of the Kastro. The gate was equipped with a drawbridge which crossed the end of the moat protecting the north wall of the town; it derives its name from a nearby round tower decorated with a relief figure of Paul the Apostle above the arms of Aubusson and pope Sixtus IV (1471-84). However, almost certainly the works of Aubusson replaced an older tower in this strategic point. The use of the term vasum electionis  (ballot vessel) in the inscription associated with the heraldry, referring to his achievement of the highest office of the Order, probably points to a date at the beginning of Aubusson's rule.

The gate was destroyed by Allied air-raids targeting the harbours of Rhodes during World War II. It was restored after Rhodes became part of the Greek State (1947).