Porte de Paris, Medieval city gate in Cambrai, France
Porte de Paris is a medieval city gate in Cambrai featuring two curved towers with thick stone walls flanking a vaulted passage. The structure demonstrates the solid construction methods used to defend the town's entrance during the Middle Ages.
The gate was built in the 14th century to guard Cambrai's southern entrance. It was modified in the 16th century to address the growing threat of cannon fire.
The structure contains a guard room equipped with a fireplace and arrow slits, demonstrating medieval military architecture techniques.
The gate invites close inspection of the engineering details, including marks from the old drawbridge system. Its central location makes it easy to visit while exploring the rest of the historic town.
The limestone blocks were placed on a sandstone foundation, with the towers once rising above the city's water-filled moats. This layering of different stone types reflects the builders' understanding of what would endure over centuries.
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