Porte de Paris, Historical city gate in Nevers, France

Porte de Paris is a triumphal arch-gate of pale rectangular stone at the corner of rue des Ardilliers and place de la Résistance in Nevers. Two thick piers carry a flat entablature with a projecting cornice over a large round arch; the base is plain and blocky, the top flat and unfinished, and darker stone rings the arch's inner curve.

Construction began in 1742 to replace a medieval structure that had previously guarded the city's entrance. The original decorative royal symbols were altered during the French Revolution, marking a shift in what the city chose to display publicly.

The east face of the gate carries a poem by Voltaire, not a Latin text, engraved in French. Its fourteen lines celebrate Louis XV's 1745 victory at Fontenoy and praise the people of Nevers who funded the gate. Look for the coffered vault flowers just beneath the arch.

This gate stands at the northern entrance to the old city and works well as a starting point for walking through the historic quarters. The site is openly accessible and clearly visible from nearby streets, making it easy to locate and view.

The sculpted decoration was destroyed during the Revolution, but the poem by Voltaire engraved on the east wall survived, honouring Louis XV's 1745 victory at Fontenoy. Look for the coffered vault flowers just beneath the arch.