Porte de Sèvres, City gate in 15th arrondissement, France.
The Porte de Sèvres is a former city gate in the 15th arrondissement of Paris that stands where the city meets its surrounding areas. This location remains an important reference point for understanding Paris's urban boundaries and structure.
The gate originated in 1860 when Paris expanded to include neighboring communities like Vaugirard, Grenelle, and Javel within its boundaries. This expansion fundamentally reshaped the city's structure and made such gates symbols of that major urban transformation.
The gate reflects how Paris organized trade and movement between the city and surrounding areas, serving as a physical boundary that controlled access. Visitors can sense how this location once managed the flow of goods and people into the capital.
The location sits at a major transportation hub with strong public transit connections linking to different neighborhoods throughout the city. Visitors should know this is a street location without dedicated facilities and is best explored during daytime hours.
Taxes were historically collected here from merchants bringing goods into the city, making it a symbol of economic control over urban trade. This financial function explains why such gates were positioned at strategic entry points to major cities.
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