The inhabitants of Jihlava, thanks to the near silver mines, have never known want. Their city flourished for many centuries, remaining the richest and most prosperous in the Czech Republic. It came from all over Europe, adventurers, and merchants, moneylenders, craftsmen, silversmiths. The city kopilas coin, as well as a major supply of silver. To protect citizens from attacks of hostile neighbors, which, of course, were in Jihlava, on the border of Bohemia and Moravia, the city magistrate decided to enclose the residential part of the settlement by high walls. Communication with the rest of the world was carried out through the gates of the Black Virgin, which was built in the XIII century, and several other towers that were destroyed in the past century. These gates have survived. They adorn the city coat of arms, which depicts a hedgehog, a symbol of Jihlava.

Since the gate is a tall tower with a Renaissance facade, it is quite logical question: what is now inside the tower? Citizens are well aware that Our Lady of the Gate - a business card of the city, so the tower there are two art exhibitions related to the walls.

Six-meter walls are so solidly that adorn almost unchanged right in the center Jihlava. The city walls stretch around the city of those times three kilometers. To the city is not exactly his way no enemy scouts, the walls inside surrounded by a deep moat and enclosed further strengthening - not less thick and massive. To monitor the surroundings on the first ring of walls were made special round turrets. Some of them can be seen today. The balance of the pit, up to 7 meters in depth, there is only one street of the city - Věžní.