Poarta Sărutului

The Gate of the Kiss is one of the three pieces of the Brâncuși ensemble at Târgu Jiu and perhaps the most charged with symbolism. Carved from Banpotoc stone, the massive gate marks the entrance to the Public Garden and is covered with the repeated motif of two joined half-circles, an extreme stylisation of the embrace and the kiss, a recurring theme in Constantin Brâncuși's work. Through it runs the monumental axis linking the Table of Silence to the Endless Column, conceived by the artist as a path of sacrifice and communion, in memory of the heroes of the First World War.

Its geometric simplicity and power of suggestion make the gate a lesson in modern art, admired by visitors from around the world. It stands right in the centre, in a pleasant park for strolling, and can be visited freely at any time. Take time to walk the whole axis on foot, to grasp the idea of the ensemble as Brâncuși conceived it.