Porte Saint-Martin

In the shadow of Rue Saint‑Martin rises the Porte Saint‑Martin, a triumphal arch of martial grandeur from the seventeenth century. Built by Pierre Bullet and completed in 1674 to celebrate King Louis XIV’s military successes along the Rhine and in Franche‑Comté.

A prior fourteenth-century city gate once stood here but was demolished as Paris expanded. The current arch is 18 m tall and constructed of marble and limestone. The central arch is adorned with bas‑reliefs depicting the king’s campaigns, flanked by two smaller arches.

Strasbourg‑Saint‑Denis metro station (lines 4, 8, 9) is around the corner, along with cafés and shops that complement the historic ambiance. The Porte Saint‑Martin remains a monumental symbol of Parisian triumphal architecture.