Barrière Saint-Martin, Historical tollhouse in Quartier de la Villette, France
The Barrière Saint-Martin is a Louis XVI tollhouse that defines Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad with its distinctive circular design. The structure features twenty pairs of columns supporting a triangular pediment at ground level, creating a balanced and ordered composition.
Claude Nicolas Ledoux designed and built this tollhouse from 1786 to 1788 as part of the Wall of the Farmers-General tax system. It served as one of fifty collection posts surrounding the city at that time.
The building expresses Louis XVI design through pure geometry, with a cubic base supporting a cylinder above. This stark arrangement shapes how visitors experience the public square today.
The tollhouse sits at Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad in the 19th arrondissement and is easy to spot from street level. Today it serves as a restaurant and event space, so you can view it from outside or experience it by visiting the venue.
The building was originally painted in bright colors to make it instantly recognizable as a government post, though these vibrant hues have faded over time. Modern restoration work has returned it to a more subdued appearance.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
