Porte d'Aquitaine, City gate at Place de la Victoire, Bordeaux, France.
The Porte d'Aquitaine is a monumental gate with a rectangular form and Corinthian columns at Place de la Victoire. The structure features a rounded arch crowned at the top and displays decorative medallions in the classical style of the 18th century.
This gate was built between 1750 and 1755 under King Louis XV and served as one of six entrances through Bordeaux's old city walls. It was designed to control who entered and left the city during that period.
The gate displays symbols of Bordeaux including the Great Bell and decorative reliefs showing sea gods and fleurs-de-lis. These ornaments reflect the city's maritime heritage and royal connections.
The gate sits at the start of Rue Sainte-Catherine and serves as a helpful landmark in the historic center. From this location, visitors can easily explore the main streets and squares of the downtown area.
In the 19th century, this structure housed a prison, and later during World War II it sheltered people during air raids. This dual role as a place of confinement and refuge tells an unexpected story about the gate's past.
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