Porte des Jacobins, Historical gate in Bourg-en-Bresse, France

The Porte des Jacobins is a 15th-century stone gateway on the rue de la République in Bourg-en-Bresse, built of pale ashlar blocks. Its tall pointed arch is framed by slender columns with carved capitals and layered moulded stonework, and a row of rounded caps tops the cornice. Two carved brackets project above the side columns, and a small plaque with faint text is mounted low on the right face.

The Jacobins' convent was founded in 1414 by the Dukes of Savoy, and the gate was built in the 15th century as the main entrance to their church. The convent was badly damaged during the Revolution, but the gate survived and was listed as a historical monument in 1927.

The gate is named after the Dominicans, called Jacobins in France. The convent was suppressed during the French Revolution, leaving only this gate. The carved corbels on both sides of the arch originally held saint figures, which are no longer there.

The gate sits on the rue de la République, one of the main streets in the city center, making it easy to find on foot. Since it is an outdoor monument, it can be seen at any time of day and fits naturally into a walk through the old town.

In the early 19th century, the congregation of Saint-Joseph moved into the former convent buildings and made changes to parts of the complex, yet the gate itself was left intact. This means the gate still bears the name of an order that had long since left the site.