The golden gates were built in 1017–1024 (6545 by the Byzantine calendar) at about the same time the Saint Sophia Cathedral was erected.Mentions of an older construction, such as the one presented on a painting by Jan Matejko of king Bolesław I of Poland striking the Golden Gate with his sword during the intervention in the Kyivan succession crisis in 1018, it is now regarded a legend.From there, the fortification stretched what is now Yaroslaviv Val ("Yaroslav's Rampart") Street back to the Southern Gate.In the museum, visitors can learn about the history of construction of the Golden gate as well as ancient Kyiv.Some art historians called for this reconstruction to be demolished and for the ruins of the original gate to be exposed to public view.[citation needed] In 1989, with the expansion of the Kyiv Metro, Zoloti Vorota station was opened nearby to the landmark.Inside the restored shaft segments there is an exposition of the Museum of the Golden Gate and the stairs leading to the balcony, from which a magnificent panorama of the city is visible.
Remnants of the old Golden Gate in the 1970s, prior to its reconstruction.